Thursday, June 30, 2011

A Gift to Treasure

     Have you noticed that, somehow, I have gotten off schedule?  It’s that time of year again…summer break!  That’s right, my boys are home for summer break.  The routine is so totally off now.  I sure hope that some sort of routine will develop (and soon).  The last week of school was packed with end of the year classroom parties and PTA transitioning that I couldn’t think straight.  The first full week of break was so busy with “other stuff” that it flew by in a blink of an eye.  Anyway, I’m now trying to play catch up.  Let me start by showing you this super awesome chair that Mrs. True’s soon-to-be-3rd grade class made for the room moms (there were two of us). 

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2011-06-15 09.17.07    Isn’t this the cutest thing you’ve ever seen!  I was so totally surprised and touched by this crafty thoughtfulness that I got teary eyed.  Then all the kids yelled “thank you!” and came to hug me.  It really was a sweet moment for this room mom!  It is something I’ll treasure for a very long time!  All the kids in the class fingerprinted flowers and then signed their name to the chair.  She used acrylic paints and Sharpie® marker.  Too cool!

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to pull up a seat and make someone’s day!  I really wanted to share this project with you.  You never know, you might just be needing something to show your appreciation?!

2011-06-15 09.15.48     One last thing to share…Adam got upset with me when I left it in the sun on the patio.  He advised that I had to put it away when I’m not sitting in it…so that the sun won’t melt the flowers…lol.  Even if I intend on coming back to it in a few minutes, I’m to put it in the garage…out of the sun!  He’s a hoot!  I think he’s pretty proud of what the class made for his mom!  That’s my boy!

Hugs,

Leslee

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Sail Away Sunset

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     Doesn’t this card make you feel happy?  It does me!  I love this color combination!  The simple layout of the card allows the main image to draw you in.  This is a brayer card.  Here’s how I did it…I masked off the sky and brayered on Marina Mist vertically to the horizon.  Then I masked off the water and brayered on Daffodil Delight horizontally from the water upward.  I strategically placed a mask for the sun using a 1-1/4” circle punched out of a sticky note.  Brayered on Peach Parfait and finished with Cajun Craze.  Unmask the sun and added a little Peach Parfait in the center of the sun with a sponge.  The Sail Away image was stamped in Basic Black Classic Ink and colored in solid with the Basic Black Marker.  I added several White Gel Pen marks in the water to give that rippled effect.  I’m absolutely loving the White Baker’s Twine (which you can find in the Summer Mini Catalog).  The Brights Collection Designer Button in Pumpkin Pie works perfectly combined with the Daffodil Delight and Pacific Point mat.  Don’t you think so?

     I sent this card to my dad.  His birthday is today.  Yay!  It’s been a tough year for both of my parents.  I’m sure these gorgeous colors and beautiful scene will be just what the doctor ordered! :)  Who wouldn’t want to view this scene?  I didn’t want to move it off my desk…but I can always make another one :)  You know I will!! ;)

     Happy Birthday Dad!  Wish I could be there to help you celebrate.  I miss you!  Oh, and your card is in the mail ;)

     Thanks for drifting by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to set sail for your craft/stamp space and create something happy, cheerful and full of color…something to make someone smile!

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Pursonality!

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      Recently, I was invited back to demonstrate another paper crafting project with the local Girl Scout Troop.  I wanted to show this cute little purse with the Faux Alligator finish.  Of course, not all of us have the same “pursonality”.  So I let each of the girls choose the colors they wanted and embellishments to fit their individual personality.  We had so much fun making these.  I made mine into a gift card holder.  Any birthday girl would love to receive this purse with a gift card tucked inside.  I know I would!  :)  Some of the girls chose to make a mini photo album instead.  Again, it’s all about “pursonality”!  100_3121

     These purses use three of the Top Note Die Cuts cut using the Big Shot.  I accordion fold a piece of card stock for the bottom.  The Top Notes were covered with VersaMark and Clear Embossing Powder.  I then created the faux look by dragging my Bone Folder through the powder and heat the powder with the Heat Tool.  Really cool effect (not to mention the ews and ahs as the girls watched the powder melt and harden). :-D   The fun really began as we picked through embellishments and punch elements to add to our purses.  

     All purses were different and showed a little of the girl’s individual personality.  All the purses were beautiful…just like all of the girls!  Thanks for having me back ladies!  You all are super fantastic!  And thank you for stopping in today.  I hope you have been inspired to show your individual personality on your projects.

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Popcorn Packages

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     My time as PTA Labels Committee Coordinator has come to an end.  I’ve tried to let all the ladies who help me out each week know just how much I appreciate their help throughout the last two years.  A handmade thank you here, a decoratively wrapped candy bar there (He’s Alive!), Carrot Treat Holders at 100_3231Easter and Mini Milk Carton Peeps just to name a few…none of which anyone expected me to do.  It’s just a simple thing from the heart that has made them smile.  This time was no exception.  I wrapped the soon-to-be-retired Newsprint DSP around a single serve microwave popcorn package.  A quick ribbon wrapped around that and a tag on top.  The tag uses the soon-to-be-retired Spiral punch along the edges.  The little popcorn bucket is punched using the Build-A-Cupcake punch.  That’s right!  I love double duty punches!  To make the popcorn in the bucket, I used the cupcake top and sponged on some Daffodil Delight scallops from the negative of the cupcake top.

      Who doesn’t like popcorn, right?  Okay…maybe some don’t but everyone who received one absolutely loved it!  I certainly get the warm fuzzies when I see someone smile!  Come to think of it…buttered popcorn makes me feel good too!  :)  Thanks for “popping” in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to make someone smile for no reason at all!

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here unless retired (Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon and DSP).

Monday, June 20, 2011

Poppy with Pizzazz

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     I think I’m stuck in the rut of making cute little cards with modified envelopes.  Not a bad rut to be stuck in but I do need to move away from these smaller style cards.  They are adorable and so much fun to make but I don’t even know whether they will mail through parcel post.  I will have to take one in and ask.  I’ll let you know.  If they do…I’m sure I’ll be stuck in this cute-little-card rut for awhile longer! ;)

100_3265     I used the masking technique to create the center circle.  I punched a hole using the 2.5” Circle punch into a sticky note.  Sponged the inside of the circle with Crumb Cake ink.  I then lined the worded stamp from the Strength & Hope set into the circle repeatedly using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and Early Espresso ink.  For projects like this, a stamp positioner is a must!  I just hate to place a line off kilter and ruin the whole card.  Most of the time, it would be a perfect opportunity for embellishing but it is a pain to decide just what embellishment to use :)  Decisions, decisions…  I digress.  The Whisper White was layered onto Poppy Parade and then on a piece of Pear Pizzazz DSP from the Patterns Pack – In Color Level 1 Hostess item.  I’m not really fond of the Poppy Parade but I do like it paired with the Pear Pizzazz and Early Espresso :)  The butterfly was stamped in Poppy Parade with Early Espresso marker just along the edge.  I used the direct to stamp technique to achieve the look.  It is cut out and on a Dimensional.

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to pull out a color your not so fond of and give it another go!  You might just find that it’s not so bad after all. 

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Friday, June 17, 2011

Simply Sail Away

100_3271     With Father’s Day in a couple of days, I have found myself reaching for this new stamp set often.  Sail Away is a lovely line art stamp that can be used in a variety of ways.  I showed this card at a recent workshop so I wanted to keep it super simple.  I stamped the image off center in Early Espresso.  The sentiment is found in the Hostess Level 1 set, Afterthoughts and is stamped in Cherry Cobbler ink.  I’m going to miss this set once it retires on June 30th. :(  The DSP is the lovely and very masculine Nautical Expedition paper in the Summer Mini Catalog.  The Early Espresso/White Baker’s Twine can be found in the same catty.  I Scallop Border punched a strip of Early Espresso card stock to off set the DSP as well.  The card base is 4.25” square in Naturals White.  I made a coordinating modified envelope to go along with the card.  You can see how I did that in this post, Scalloped Circle Card w/ Envelope.

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to make a quick masculine card and let the men in your life know just how much they are loved and appreciated!  :)

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The Black Splat!

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     This is the card and gift bag I had made for my son’s birthday.  If you had read my earlier post about his party invites (Extreme Invites) you’d understand the significance of “the black splat”.  Well, I just had to make his card and the bag with a black splat!  It’s what he asked for :) 

100_3247     This set was so super simple…thanks to the Extreme Elements stamp set.  I simply used a ready-made plain gift bag and added a card stock front to it.  One point of interest, the splat is in Basic Black Classic Ink.  The birthday sentiment, found in the Bring On The Cake set, is stamped using Whisper White Craft Ink.  The black looks as if it bled through the craft ink giving it a bluish color.  You can see it where the stars where stamped over the black splat as well.  It’s kind of a cool effect…not an expected effect but cool just the same.  Maybe I need to re-ink my craft pad though too???  Hmm…anyway, Jess loved it!

     It’s been crazy in the Holston house with the end of the school year.  Last day is today!  Yay!  I’m looking forward to the slower pace of summer break.  Of course, I give it about a week and I’ll be ready to send them back to school ;)  I have lots of teacher gift stuff to show you.  I just need to find time to breathe a minute or two before I can post them.  Ahhh…it won’t be long.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Enjoy!

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Monday, June 13, 2011

Extreme Surfboard Take Two

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     I get bummed this time of year.  Sets that I truly love, mostly guy/sporty type sets always seem to make the retiring list. :(  To see this list for yourself, click this link, Last Chance Stamp Set List

100_3203a     Well, I am sad to say that this set, which I just got, is on the soon-to-be retired list!  So, I had to give it another go.  I loved the first card I used it on, Surf’s Up!, so much that I pretty much cased my card.  I changed only a few things on the card…the embellishments.  Again, I used scrap that were on my desk.  This time, I used Smooch Spritz on the image panel.  It’s difficult to see in these photos, but trust me, it gives it a super cool shimmer…just like a spray of water!  That’s exactly the effect I was going for!  The boys loved it and my oldest ask that we give it to his buddy for his birthday.  Of course we can!!

     Thanks for checking out my Take Two.  I hope you’ve been inspired to give one of your lovely creations a second go.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Extreme Invites

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     My son approached me about a week or so ago and asked if I had thought of an invite for his party yet.  I told him that I hadn’t but it was next on the list of things to do (we all have those “priority lists”).  He then said, “Well, this is what I was thinking of…” and he proceeds to pull out some card stock colors and tells me how he wants it folded (a gate fold).  He continues to tell me that he sees the Extreme Elements “splat” here and a punched Scallop Circle in the center with the “crown” on it.  I have to admit, this was one of the easiest invites I have ever done!  I simply put his vision onto paper.  He said that it is exactly what he had in mind, except that he envisioned the “splat” stamped in black ink but he could live with it in VersaMark.  Gotta love it!  I was impressed just listening to him explain his vision to me.  What a GREAT stamping mom moment it was!!  I did take liberties and heat emboss the 100_3133crown in Basic Black craft and Black Embossing Powder.  I think these are one of my favorite invites!

     There you have it.  My baby boy is growing up.  It goes by so quickly…just yesterday I brought him home from the hospital and today…well today he turns 12Happy Birthday Jess!  I love you!

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you can be inspired by someone special in your life!  I was! :)

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Strength & Hope – Thank You

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     This is the first chance I’ve had to even play with this lovely new set, Strength & Hope.  Since this is a “card-0f-firsts”, I also gave my Watercolor Pencils a go and tried my hand at the Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder on a square panel.  For the butterfly, I used my Watercolor Pencils directly onto the stamp and then misted the stamp with water before stamping it onto a piece of Whisper White card stock. 

     Each of these techniques will require a bit more refining.  Overall, I am very satisfied at how this card turned out.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to give something that you’ve been putting off a try!  You just might like how it turns out!

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Monday, June 6, 2011

Sail Away for Father’s Day

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        This set, Sail Away, is found in the Summer Mini Catalog.  Such a beautiful set for any gender but simply perfect for those hard-to-come-up-with masculine cards!  Here’s a little gift set that I made for one of the dad’s in my life (I’m not sure who will get this one just yet). 

100_3177     This is another 4.25” square card with an altered envelope.  You can see how I altered the envelope in this post, Scalloped Circle Card w/Envelope.  I stamped the sailboat twice, once on a scrap piece so that I could color it in with my Blender Pen and Crumb Cake ink, run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and fussy cut the sails.  The sails were then placed on the main image using dimensionals.  I love how it makes the sails look full.  The image is matted on Not Quite Navy and adhered to the Crumb Cake card base.  The Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine looks great on this masculine card.  100_3179

     The inside was done up using the beautiful Nautical Expedition DSP (also in the Summer Mini Catalog), which is used on the envelope as well.  Sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set. 

100_3183     The gift set is completed with this quick and simple Pillow Box die cut treat holder.  This time the Baker’s Twine serves a purpose and holds the box closed :) Again, a strip of DSP to tie it all together.  The hard part is deciding what to put in the box!

Thanks for sailing through today.  I hope you caught some wind in your sails and set off to create something masculine for someone in your life!

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Friday, June 3, 2011

Blossom Bouquet Trio

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100_3155     While creating this card, FTL#142 Birthday Wishes, I made a few extra flowers with the Blossom Bouquet – Triple Layer Punch.  This time, I placed a Jewel Basic Pearl in the center.  I used up some scraps that were on my desk.  Threw the scraps together in a pleasing-to-the-eye manner and stamped on the sentiment…found in the Bring On The Cake set.

     I love the Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black and Whisper White color combination. 

     Birthday card for the little girl across the street….done!

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to use some of your scraps today.  More times than not, they make one terrific card!

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

FTL#142 Birthday Wishes

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     I found myself in need of a beautiful birthday card for my mother-in-law (go figure…me in need of a card…lol). 

     There were three things I knew for sure…

  1.      I knew that I had to use green (that’s her favorite color)…Pear Pizzazz is perfect! 
  2.      I knew I wanted to give the Faux Mother of Pearl technique a try.  I have seen so many crafty people use this technique all over the internet but,when I saw this card by Annette and this card by Andrea, I knew I had to give it a try…and real soon!  I used the lattice looking piece of Presto Patterns DSP, daubed on some Frost White Shimmer Paint using a crumpled up piece of plastic wrap and sponged on the Pear 100_3168Pizzazz ink.  Wipe off any excess ink with a paper towel.  Tip:  Let the Shimmer Paint dry before sponging on your ink.  You can speed this process up using your Heat Tool. 
  3.      I, also, knew that I wanted to use this cute little flower that I came up with while playing with my new Blossom Bouquet – Triple Layer Punch.  I did the Faux Suede technique on it and twisted up the punched outside ring for the flower center.  A Jewel Basic Rhinestone adorns the very center. 

     I was catching up on some blog surfing when I came across this weeks Fall-To-Layout #142 on the Clean & Simple Stamping blog.  I knew immediately that this would be the perfect layout for this card!  It shows each technique used absolutely beautifully!  I love it when a card comes together so quickly!

     Thanks to all that inspired this card!  Check out Annette’s blog, Lavender Thoughts, and Andrea’s blog, EnchantINK.  Give them some comment love while you’re there.  And, as always, when in a rut (or anytime), give the Fall-To-Layouts a try on the Clean & Simple Stamping blog.  They post a new layout each Friday.  I hope you have been inspired too!

     Oh, my MIL loved her card.  Of course, she’s always so impressed by everything I do :) (Gotta love her!)  We had her over for dinner on Monday, which was also Memorial Day here in the states.  Kabobs on the grill and her favorite dessert, Brownie Tiramisu Trifle – yum!

Hugs,

Leslee

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