Friday, September 23, 2011

French Foliage Birthday Wishes

 100_3718

     This card just makes me happy!  The natural colors and clean lines work very nicely together.  It just seems to brighten the day :)

100_3721

     Once again, I used the French Foliage set along with Watercolor Crayons.  I, also, colored up the small Acrylic Block A with the crayons, misted with water and randomly stamped the Whisper White layer.  It was then layered onto Early Espresso, wrapped with Linen Thread and finished with a Daffodil Delight Designer Button – Bright.  The scrap layers are Daffodil Delight and Lucky Limeade

     Again, a quick and easy card.  Thanks for stopping in.  I hope you’ve been inspired to color on your acrylic blocks.  Such a nice effect to the project :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Give Thanks Set

100_3764 

100_3722       Autumn is my favorite season!  I love the change of outdoor scenery.  God’s canvas offers a lot to be inspired by!  Well, the leaves here in Virginia aren’t quite ready to change just yet but it won’t be long.  The weather is beginning to get cooler and nightfall is getting earlier.  I guess I’m ready for this change because I couldn’t wait to break out my French Foliage set and rich, warm and natural colors.  100_3752

     This cute little fall project was designed for my Stamp Club.  It features the use of the new Simply Scored tool, the beautiful Hand-Penned Holidays set, the sparkly Dazzling Details glitter glue and cute little 1” x 8” Cellophane Bags (all found in the current Holiday Mini Catalog).  The project also features Watercolor Crayons and the direct-to-stamp technique. 

100_3735     I am so loving the Simply Scored tool!  It really makes quick work of any scored project.  The medallion and the box were both made on the Simply Scored tool.  Why do you need a Simply Scored when you have the Paper Cutter with Scoring blade?  (I knew you would ask that.)  The answer…this tool is so much100_3745 quicker.  There is no lifting and realigning of the card stock.  Score lines are every 1/8”.  I only wish Stampin’ Up! offered it sooner :)  Trust me, it is a must have! 

     If you’d like to learn just how the Simply Scored works, consider hosting a workshop.  I’ll be happy to show you just how simple it is to create this lovely box & medallion. 

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you can find inspiration in the things you find outside your door :)

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Monday, September 19, 2011

With Love

100_3713

     Once again, I’ve been incognito for several days.  ‘Me time’ has been at a minimum lately.  Getting back to my routine with the boys being in school has taken a toll on me and I hope I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew with my new PTA responsibilities.  I’ve just plain been exhausted!  Anyway, I’ve got to find the mojo and soon!  I’ve got a Stamp Club meeting coming up and my One Sheet Wonder Class shortly after that!

     I started out with something simple.  Don and I celebrated our fourteenth wedding anniversary last week.  He isn’t a sappy card kind of guy and this simple card was short, sweet and to the point.  I started with a Naturals Ivory card base and layer.  I stamped the sentiment from Hand-Penned Holidays in Indigo Island and scored the “frame” using my Simply Scored tool (very cool tool!).  I sponged on some Pear Pizzazz along the outside edge.  Colored the Jewel Basic Rhinestones with a turquoise Sharpie® marker.  The layer is adhered to the base with Dimensionals

     Like I said, sweet and to the point.  It isn’t exactly what I had in my head and I wish I would have used Whisper White card stock instead.  But, it severed its purpose and let Don know that I love him very much!  :)

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to make a sweet and to the point kind of card for yourself.

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Simply Soft Marina Mist Whispers

 100_3683

     100_3691Okay, maybe I’m too tired to come up with a good title tonight.  This card really took no time at all.  I love the fresh clean look of Whisper White with Marina Mist.  A quick spritz with Marina Mist Marker and the Color Spritzer Tool onto the Marina Mist layer.  The Square Lattice Textured piece was a leftover.  Yes!  I’m still trying to use them up!  I softened the edges of the stamped focal image with the Corner Rounder punch and the texture tool in the Cutter Kit.  The image is from the Simply Soft Hostess set.  A very lovely Two-step stampin’ set.  I like the way the Antique Brad fits into the Marina Mist Designer Button for an all new look.  This Whisper White Satin ribbon is so feminine.  Love it!!

     This lovely stamp set could be yours for free simply by hosting a workshop.  I can show you just how easy this card is to make.  Besides, stamping with your friends and family is so much fun to do anyway!  Call me to schedule your workshop today.

     The boys had a great first day back to school.  I knew they would!  I stayed very busy and never did get any stamping time in.  Maybe later tomorrow.  I must get to the gym for a workout first.  It’s been ALL summer since my last visit and it’s starting to show :(

     Thanks for stopping in.  I hope you’ve been inspired to, ah…let’s see…inspired to give a big button an all new look!! :)  Have fun with it!

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are available for purchase through Stampin’ Up! here.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Thank You Bundles

100_3680

     Many of you know, I’m very active with the school PTA.  Last year as Labels Coordinator, I was able to get pens, pencils, glue sticks and sticky note pads through one of the programs that the school participates in.  Yes, I knew full well that it would be up to me to put these items together in bundles…all 80 of them.  You read that right…80!  We hand them out to the teachers, para-educators and school staff at the Back To School Luncheon.  A simple thank you for paying for their yearly membership with the PTA.  I love to do it and the teachers seem to appreciate them as well :)  What will they do when I’m gone?? 

     The cute little bus is found in the Every Little Bit set.  I quickly colored these in with Stampin’ Write markers in Daffodil Delight, Real Red and Basic Grey.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I love these sets used together!  Together, it’s a sentiment and cute little image for just about everything you can imagine.  I had to take apart the sticky note pads in thirds so that I could punch the hole in them using the Crop-A-Dile.  Some curling ribbon holds it all together.

     Adam asks why I do all this?  Maybe I do it because I appreciate all that the school, staff and teachers do for our children?  Maybe I do it because I so enjoy sending my boys to school for several hours each day??  Hmmm…  Whatever the ‘real’ reason…I love to do it!  Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to do a little something for the educators in your life :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Stamps and markers are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Shower Invites

100_3603

     Sorry for the delay in posting.  Been extremely busy after Hurricane Irene and preparing for school to begin next week.  Yes, I’m excited for school to begin so that I can get myself back onto a schedule. 

100_3599     So, looking back over the last month, you can see just how my mind works to get to this set of cards today.  A friend of mine approached me to make a dozen baby shower invites for her.  Having just tried the gingham technique using the Stripes Textured Embossing Folder and the Big Shot and LOVING the look, I just had to give it a try in pink.  I used Pink Pirouette and Whisper White.  Again, I crimped the Eyelet Border punched edge.  A simple square knot in the Whisper White Taffeta ribbon will allow the card to fit easily into an envelope for mailing.  The sentiment is from the Sincere Salutations set.  I, also, stamped a little teddy bear from the Every Little Bit set onto the outside of the envelopes.  He is a little bit difficult to see in the photos but, trust me, he’s a cutie :) 

     And there you have it!  My journey to the invites and just how the mind is inspired…while trying to use up all the bits and pieces leftover on my desk.  I did a pretty good job using up those scraps and I am proud of myself!  It just seemed that I’d never climb out of the everything-is-looking-the-same rut.  Well, I took Andrea’s advice…stashed the scraps in the scrap bin and started fresh! 

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired. 

     On a personal note,  we made it through Hurricane Irene with no problems.  We lost power only for a couple of hours.  By the time my husband decided to start the generator so he could watch the race, the power came on within five minutes.  Lots of limbs down and tons of leaf debris but very little waterline debris.  The worst part was shuffling around the vehicles, all the company equipment and small engine tools.  Hubby has acquired WAY too much 2011-08-27 19.10.07junk in the eight years since the last hurricane came through.  Our new pool was an absolute mess!  The concrete surround isn’t put down yet and there was a good two inches of mud in the bottom of the pool…nasty!  It took me three days just to clear it up enough to even see the bottom.  All is well though and we are extremely thankful.  Oh…funny story…we were saying grace before dinner the night before the storm, my youngest (Adam the comedian) adds on “and may God send a jet ski to float up into our yard.”  Hmmm!  Much to Adam’s dismay, there was no jet ski among the debris.  Little stinker!  

Hugs,

Leslee

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