Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!

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100_3904     We made this card at our October Stamp Club meeting.  It was a huge hit with the ladies.  This technique has lots of WOW factor to it.  It’s called the Ghosting Technique or VersaMark Resist.  We called it ghosting in honor of Halloween :) 

     The technique is simple.  Start with a piece of Glossy White card stock.  Stamp your image to be ghosted in VersaMark ink.  In this case, the sentiment from the House of Haunts set.  Let it dry just a bit then sponge on your color of choice.  You could brayer on your color too.  I’ve used Concord Crush on this card.  The versamark will resist the ink, leaving it uncolored.  That’s right…ew-ah!  Cool!  I sponged on some Basic Black ink around the edges to give my image a bit more depth.  I finished the image panel with the tree (also from House of Haunts), stamped in 100_3906Jet Black StazOn.  The card base is Basic Gray.  I ran it through the Big Shot with the Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and highlighted it with Concord Crush ink using the flat stamp in the Distressing Essentials Kit.  Of course, I had to finish the inside with this cute little bat from the Every Little Bit set.

     I don’t make a lot of Halloween cards to send but I couldn’t ‘resist’ making this one :)   100_3912

     We also made this Pillow Box Mummy Treat Holder.  Again, it’s super simple.  Run the Naturals Ivory card stock through the Big Shot on the Pillow Box die.  Using the leftover card stock, tear strips, sponge the edges with Sahara Sand and adhere to the box using Sticky Strip.  I used a 3/4” circle with a little googlie eye for the eyes.  Too cute!

     It was a super fun stamp club meeting.  I’ll show the last card we made at the meeting in tomorrow’s post.  I’ll pick up with the OSW cards after that :)  I hope you’ve been inspired to give this ghosting technique a try…if you haven’t already :)  Have a Happy Halloween!

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Treats Only

100_3938 I figured that I ought to post up these Halloween goodies before the All Hallowed Eve actually gets here :) I do love to spoil the children. Adam’s classroom had a little “End of a Unit Celebration” ;) I couldn’t resist making up a bunch of these treats 100_3930for the kids!



I used the long retired but never out of style, Booglie Eyes set to create the cute little toppers. Stamped them in Jet Black StazOn on Whisper White card stock. I colored them in using my Watercolor Pencils and a Blender Pen. Super easy…I did them at one of Jesse’s soccer practices :) A 1-3/4” Scallop Circle and 1-3/8” Circle punched in various colors of scraps. I stapled the scallop circle to the fun 1” x 8” Cello Bags which I had stuffed with a festive pencil and two Pixie Stixs. Everyone loves a Pixie :) I then adhered the layered circles on top of the staple with a Dimensional.



Fun, quick and very cute project! I’m loving these 100_3936little cello treat bags! At only $2.50 for a package of 50…you can’t help but look for cool little goodies to fill them with. I can’t wait to try a chocolate dipped holiday pretzel in these bags!



Thanks for stopping in today. I hope you’ve been inspired to do a little something fun while crafting your projects today :)



Hugs,



Leslee



Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and most can be purchased here.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

2011 Holiday OSW Card #7

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100_3827     This is another of my favorites from the OSW cards.  I LOVE snowflakes!  So I layered up this flake with the large Snowflake #2 and a small Sizzlits Die – Snowflakes Set #2.  This color combo is perfect for the Serene Snowflakes stamped randomly on the Marina Mist card base.  I used both VersaMark ink and Marina Mist ink.  The button is tied on with a bit of White Baker’s Twine.  The sentiment is from the Christmas Greetings set.  What’s not to love?  Super simple…done!!  I may just make up a bunch of these for my greeting cards this year :)

     Thanks for slipping by today.  This one is for my sis.  The season’s first snowfall in Denver, CO has her snowed in today.  Just Monday, she had temps in the high 70’s.  Now, she has 8 inches of heavy, wet snow.  001cMy son, Adam, called her with this…what do you call the last snowflake to hit the ground?  Give up?  A slow flake!  Hehe haha!  I hope you enjoy your day…no matter what it’s looking like outside your window :)

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

2011 Holiday OSW Card #6

     Well, here were are half way through the OSW cards.  If you haven’t figured it out by now, all these cards are super easy to make.  Each one would be great to mass produce as well.  Once you have your design, cutting and prepping won’t take long at all.  Creating twelve cards in one sitting doesn’t have to be a terrible chore.  My OSW Card Class had four ladies in 100_3815attendance.  It took us only three hours to complete the entire set…and that included sharing supplies and lots of laughs!  It really was a super fun time! 

     For card #6, we start with a Cherry Cobbler base.  Adhere a piece of DSP with edge torn for visual texture.  The Early Espresso layer was run through the Big Shot using the new Snow Burst Textured folder.  The tree from Snow Much Fun was stamped onto the Whisper White panel with Jet Black StazOn ink.  We colored it in using Watercolor Pencils and a Blender Pen.  A bit of Dazzling Details Glitter Glue adds just the right amount of sparkle to this image.  It’s difficult to see in this photo but, trust me, it’s there :)  The sentiment is from my favorite, Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  Again, this card leaves lots of room for adding more layers or embellishments.

     Thanks for popping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to make a bunch of cards today :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

2011 Holiday OSW Card #5

      I am so sorry for the long break between posts.  My ‘other’ life has been extremely demanding of me…leaving no time for any stamp related activities.  Funny thing is, stamping is my only form of stress relief.  I should know by now that a ‘stamping break’ is just what I needed!

     So, here I am with card #5 on the OSW set.100_3820

     I promised my son, Jesse, that I would give him all credit for this card.  He thought up the overall card design.  I put it together.  It really doesn’t get 100_3822much easier than this.  The poinsettia is created entirely of 5-Petal Flower punch outs.  The ‘veins’ were ‘drawn’ on with a stylusBasic Jewel – Pearls are perfect in the flower center.  The tag is from the Tags Til Christmas set.  The lovely Cherry Cobbler Quilted Ribbon is wrapped around the DSP corners and then the DSP is adhered to the Cherry Cobbler card base. 

     Very simple and elegant.  Wouldn’t this make a cute gift card holder?  Card and present all in one! 

     Thanks Jesse for the design.  You Rock Kiddo!  :)  And thank you for stopping in today.  I’m going to try to post a bunch up before my ‘other’ life gets too hectic again.  I think I might slip some non-OSW cards in here and there too :)  Thanks for hangin’ in there with me. 

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here.

Monday, October 17, 2011

2011 Holiday OSW Card #4

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     I have a real love for snowmen and snowflakes.  How can one go wrong putting the two together.  After all, snowflakes are merely unassembled snowmen…right? 

100_3814     This card is, again, too simple!  Piece #4 from the Frostwood Lodge DSP template adhered to the left side of a Marina Mist card base.  Run it all through the Big Shot with the Northern Flurry Texture folder.  The tall snowman is from the Snow Much Fun set and colored in with classic inks and a Blender Pen.  Distress the edges of the Whisper White image panel with the distressing tool on the Cutter Kit and adhere to card base with Dimensionals

     Very quick, very cute card.  By leaving any sentiment off the front of the card, this card could be used for a variety of occasions.  Simply stamp a sentiment on the inside.  I love creating versatile cards like this.  It can quickly become a birthday, thank you or thinking of you card. :)

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to stock your stash with cards for all occasions :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here.

Friday, October 14, 2011

2011 Holiday OSW Card #3

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100_3809     This is one of my favorites from the One Sheet Wonder class.  It features the beautiful Dasher image stamped in Early Espresso ink.  I love to add the Rhinestone Jewels to this image.  The sentiment is found in the Delightful Decorations set.  I ran the Cherry Cobbler layer through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice folder.  You could omit this step but the added texture really adds just the right touch to the card.  A triple wrap with the Cherry Cobbler & White Baker’s Twine anchors the image to the layers.

     Speaking of the Big Shot…through the month of October, you can receive the Big Shot Die Cutting machine for FREE when you sign your Demonstrator Agreement with Stampin’ Up!  If you are ready to become part of my creative team, call me or check out all the details on my website’s Promotions Page.

     What do you think?  You can do this too.  Simple…right?  You betcha!  I love this card!  Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to add a little texture to your project today!

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

2011 Holiday OSW Card #2

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     Isn’t this an elegant card?  Talk about simple!  It doesn’t get any more simple than this!  The beautiful Cherry Cobbler Quilted Ribbon is wrapped behind the DSP and then the Frostwood Lodge DSP is adhered to a Garden Green card base.  The sentiment is from the very affordable Christmas Greetings set.  This would be a great, simple card to mass produce for your holiday greeting card.  It also allows plenty of room to add on…layer an image or add embellishments.  I love the simplicity of this card!

     Thanks for stopping in.  I hope you’ve been inspired to go simple!

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

2011 Holiday OSW Card #1

     I’ve been deliberating as to how best show the One Sheet Wonder class cards to you.  Shall I post them all in one?  Or, one card at a time?  After much hemming and hawing, I’ve decided that one at a time is best.  Although each of these cards have a common thread…the DSP and colors…each is unique on its own.  I’ve kept each card simple and scrappy.  Thus utilizing my card stock to the fullest.  The simplicity of each card allows for additional layering or embellishments but, to complete in a class setting, keeping it simple is best.

     Without further ado, here is Card #1:

100_3798     I’ve adhered the 1” x 4” strips of Frostwood Lodge DSP (love this DSP) to a mat of Marina Mist.  The sentiment is from the retired Occasional Quotes.  Two Cherry Cobbler snowflakes from the Snowflakes Set #2 Sizzlits Dies and a snip of Cherry Cobbler Quilted Ribbon.  The Whisper White card base is the perfect back drop for these festive colors.

     I designed and have worked with this template for cutting the DSP for the last three years.  Each time, I tweak it to fit my needs.  I have to say, this is the best one I’ve done yet :)  If you are interested in the template, I’ll be happy to share it with you (cause I love to share).  It’s easy enough to change it up to fit your needs.  Just let me know in the comments or email me and I’ll get the template to you.

     The class was so much fun!  I’ll be having another on November 19th.  It will feature all snowmen and snowflakes (my favorites) and another piece of the Frostwood Lodge DSP.  If you are in the Tidewater region of Virginia and would like to join in the fun, check out my website’s Events page for additional information.

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I have plenty more OSW Class cards to share over the next several days.  I hope you’ve been inspired to start your holiday greeting card stash.  It’s never to early to start!

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Ghosting Leaves

100_3793      I have never tried the ‘ghosting’ technique and thought it would be fun to teach to my Stamp Club ladies the month of October.  Of course, just because the technique name sounds scary, doesn’t mean that it has to be scary.  The technique is also known as VersaMark Resist.  I read through the tutorial on SplitCoastStampers and added my own little experimenting to this one. 

     Here’s how I did it.  Start with a piece of Glossy White card stock.  Randomly stamp the small leaf from French Foliage in VersaMark.  I let mine dry a bit before applying the ink.  I used my brayer to apply Daffodil Delight.  Then I stamped the larger leaf in VersaMark, let dry a bit and brayered on Pumpkin Pie.  I finished by stamping the larger leaf in Cajun Craze repetitively.  I sponged all edges with Early Espresso.  Layered on Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade and a strip of Square Lattice textured Early Espresso.  The card base is Crumb Cake.  The sentiment is from Bring On The Cake

     I really like how this card turned out.  For a first try to this really cool technique, it wasn’t too bad.  The second stamping of the VersaMark doesn’t quite show up as well as I had wanted it to but it’s very subtly there.  I will have to play a bit more with the technique before my club meeting.  For this card, I was going for a masculine feel.  It’s for my little brother’s birthday :)  Happy Birthday, Steve!  Love and miss you!

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to try the ghosting technique…or any other technique that may be new to you.  Don’t give up on the first try just because it doesn’t look like you expected it to.  Try it again with new colors, new stamps or just a few tweaks to your liking.  You might just stumble across something you really like :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Scrappy Quick 50th Card

      There is plenty going on this month with fall sports, tons of birthdays and a change-of-season head cold.  Me time is at a minimum and the mojo just isn’t making an appearance when I do sit down to create :(  Therefore, my cards all seem to have taken on that simple scrappy look.  Don’t get me wrong…I love the look and it uses up the bits and pieces I have at hand :)  I have recently completed my One Sheet Wonder Class and all the cards were the simple scrappy look.  The ladies seemed to really like them (I’ll show them here soon) and it really does leave some wiggle room for extra layering or embellishments.

100_3785     This card was made in less than thirty minutes.  We had soccer in the morning, followed by a very long baseball game in the afternoon.  I literally had thirty minutes to create a card, change clothes and get on up the road for my brother-in-law’s surprise birthday party.  As chance would have it, the color combo I had seen on the Color Challenge #334 on SplitCoastStampers earlier in the week.   Lo and behold, there they lay on my desk…ready to be used.  I do like the combo…Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso.  With the scrappy look, it makes a very nice masculine card.  I love when a card comes together so quickly and nicely :)  The image/sentiment was pieced together from the Bring On The Cake set.  I stamped it twice to punch out the “5” and “0” with the 3/4” Circle punch, colored them with marker and adhered them in place with Dimensionals.  The Cherry Cobbler scrap was textured using the Big Shot and the Square Lattice folder.  If I would have read the entire Color Challenge, I could have used the Crimper to corrugate the layer and I would have done the “dessert option”.  The textured layer really adds some visual interest to the card.  Of course, the inside sentiment says, “So many candles, so little cake!”  B-I-L and everyone else at the party loved the card.

     Oh, and speaking of the Big Shot (and I’m not talking about my brother-in-law), when you join the Stampin’ Up! family during the month of October, you will receive the Big Shot for FREE!  Or you can choose up to $100 in FREE product.  $175 for your Starter Kit will get you over $345 worth of stamp sets, inks and business supplies to get your business going.  It’s a great deal!  Visit my website or call me for more details.

     I hope you’ve been inspired today.  Give a few minutes and see how you can use your scraps quickly :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here.