Sneak Peek at Betsy’s Blossoms

 

     I received my new catalog pre-order and I was itchin’ to play with some of the new In-Colors.  On this card we have Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals and Gumball Green.  Let me just stop right here and say, “I love these colors!”  They look so nice together and I look forward to using them over the next two years :)  Yes, I’m still on a color block kick.  It’s a great way to showcase these new In-Colors.  The flowers are from the beautiful new Betsy’s Blossoms set.  I stamped them in Basic Black Craft Ink.  Love the way it pops on the colors of the background.  I finished the card off with a length of Gumball Green Satin Stitched Ribbon (I must say it’s yummy).  The sentiment from Afterthoughts has retired but I pull it out often.  It’s one of those sets that I can’t tuck away.

     You can purchase these new goodies beginning June 1st.  That’s only one week away.  In the meantime, go over your wish list and make sure you purchase any of the retiring items before May 31st.  After that, you may never see them again.  Just like the sentiment, it may be a set that you pull out often.  Some sets you just can’t live without! 

     Let me know what you think of the new In-Colors.  Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs,

Leslee

To order, click here.

Color Blocking & Mud Slinging

     I sat down late Friday night to make cards for two of the three birthday parties the boys had to attend this past weekend.  I wanted them to be quick and easy as I was exhausted.  Jess suggested that I use the retired Extreme Dirt Bike set.  He also said that it would be “cool” (yes, he used that word) if I could get some “mud” flying off the tires.  LOL…okay…I’ll see what I can do.  Well, this is what I created. 

     I, again, used Clear Block C to stamp the color blocked backgrounds.  I inked up the block using Classic ink pads…Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz on the first card and Bashful Blue, Marina Mist and Pacific Point on the second.  The dirt bike and sentiment was stamped in Basic Black Craft ink. 

     I could have stopped there but I just had to give Jesse’s “mud-off-the-tires” a try.  I tore a sheet of scrap paper in two.  Placed them on top of the card revealing only a crack from the back tire.  I then sprizted it using the Log Cabin Smooch Spritz.  The end result is “mud-off-the-tires”. :) 

     Personally, I would have stopped without the mud but seeing the smile on Jesse’s face made the “muddy mess” all worth it :)  Thanks for stopping in.  I hope you’ve been inspired to throw a little mud on your card today.  Okay…spritz something!  And remember…without water, mud pies would be non-existent. 

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies can be purchased here.

BIG Birthday Wishes

     The past weekend was such a busy one.  It was hubby’s birthday weekend and we did it up BIG!  The boys and I treated him to dinner at his favorite seafood restaurant on Friday night.  Soccer and baseball games Saturday morning, Jesse’s friend’s birthday party in the afternoon and a birthday bonfire Saturday night here at the house…complete with live music :)  Sunday, recoup, two more kids’ birthday parties to attend and birthday dinner at another restaurant with Don’s family.  Lots of birthday-ing going on and I hadn’t a single slice of cake nor a dollop of ice cream :(

     Needless to say, card making was fast and easy!  This is the cute little card I did for hubby’s gift bag.  He’s not big on cards so I made his card small…but it’s BIG on wishes :)  The card measures 2.5” x 2.5”.  I used my Basic Gray marker and scribbled directly onto Clear Block C.  The “Wish Big” sentiment is from the Word Play set.  Markered it up in Basic Black and Rich Razzleberry.  The gift bag has stars all over it in shades of gray and black so I chose my colors from that.  Stamped a “Happy Birthday” sentiment on the inside, signed it with an “I love you” and called it done!  Literally a 5 minute card :) 

     We spoiled him so much this weekend that I think it made up for the lack in size of card ;)  Besides, I always heard that good things come in small packages :)  Thanks for stopping in for a quick peek.  I hope you’ve been inspired.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies can be purchased here.

A First :)

 

     Our little niece has just celebrated her 1st birthday.  She has such a sweet little personality.  She certainly has us all wrapped around her little finger :) 

     I had only about 30 minutes to throw something together.  What could be easier than the Big Shot and 5-Petal Flower punch?  I can’t think of anything either :)  The flowers are in Melon Mambo, Little Leaves die cut in Garden Green.  The ribbon and flower buttons are from Sale-A-Bration past.  The sentiment is pieced together from Bring On The Cake.  The Perfect Polka Dots texture allows the card base in Whisper White to work with the Whisper White Top Note die.

     Quick, easy and cute…just like my niece!  Here’s a cute picture of her and my baby.  She held his attention almost as long as his favorite video game!  :)  Now that is a first.  Thanks for stopping in today.  

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies for this card can be purchased here.

Gift Set for Teacher

     This is the gift set that I made for Adam’s teacher during Teacher Appreciation Week.  Her favorite color is blue so I thought that Marina Mist would make the grade :)  I used the classic Note Cards in Whisper White.  Purchasing these ready cut and scored cards cuts so much of the prep time out of the project and they come packaged with envelopes too.  Images and sentiments are from several different stamp sets.  Current sets are Simply Soft (retiring hostess set), Pocket Silhouettes (retiring) and Elements of Style.  Each image was stamped in Jet Black StazOn and colored in using a Blender Pen and Marina Mist and Pear Pizzazz ink refills.  I did two cards of each design so I kept the cards simple, not a lot of embellishments and, yet, tons of elegance.  I packaged them simply in a clear cello bag tied up with a Marina Mist Polka Dot Ribbon.

     She loved the set and I’m sure she will put them to good use.  It is always nice to know that all the hard work that you put into a project is appreciated.  Well, we wanted her to know just how much we appreciate her :)  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you take a minute to let those around you know just how much you appreciate and love them.

Hugs,

Leslee

Current supplies can be purchased here.

Think Outside The Box

   You know what they say, “time flies when you’re having fun”.  It sure has.  It’s been way too long since my last blog post.  Sorry about that…I’ve been having fun :)  It’s actually been pretty crazy around the Holston household.  We’ve had soccer games at one end of the county and baseball games at the other.  Throw in a sick little one here and a sick big one there.  A 1st birthday, a quick visit from my parents (smile:) and Teacher Appreciation Week.  I think you are up-to-date on the goings on in my life.  Now, on to a crafty project :)

     

      As I had mentioned, last week was National Teacher Appreciation Week.  Adam’s classroom moms decided that we were going to spoil the teacher with something every day of the week.  I offered to do some note cards (I’ll blog those soon).  Of course, they had to be packaged and presented in something appropriate.  I had done one of these coaster boxes a very long time ago.  But when I saw this on Becky Roberts’ blog, Inking Idaho, at Christmas time, I knew I had to do another.  I really loved how she used the cork and sticky note pad.  I just couldn’t get a magnetic side to come together.  I really need magnetic sheets…all I had was something pulled off the side of my refrigerator :(

     I covered 4x4 coasters with the bright and beautiful Summer Smooches DSP.  I think I’m going to love this paper!  I used Mod Podge to adhere it.  Used my Crop-a-dile to punch holes along the edges.  Laced Whisper White 1/4” Grosgrain ribbon (retiring) to hold it all together.  I simply glued in a bottom coaster using Tombow Multi-purpose Glue.  I then decorated it up to my heart’s content :)  I pulled it all out.  Might as well use up those little trinkets and embellishments that I’ve been hoarding.  I love that there is so much to look at on the box :)  Thanks for the inspiration Becky!

 

     The card was super simple.  The Top Note Die and the Big Shot makes quick work.  The apple core was made using the Round Tab punch.  The ‘apple seeds’ are the center pieces leftover from the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch.  Now that’s thinking outside the box :)  Love it!  Definitely an A+!  I had the entire classroom of kids sign the card and we presented it all to the teacher.  Of course, she loved it!   

     I may have to do more of these.  It really was so much fun playing with all my embellishments and goodies.  They’d make a really neat craft fair item too :)  Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you found inspiration to think “outside the box” :)

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up!  Some may be retired, some retiring soon, all the rest can be purchased here.

Simple Bits

 
     This was such a clean & simple layout!  There wasn’t much else to do with the one little piece of retired Presto Patterns Specialty DSP.  It was previously colored using sponges and Stampin’ Pastels (if memory serves me correctly).  Yes, it is out of my Bits And Pieces pile. :)  I thought that the Pear Pizzazz (retiring soon) Scalloped Oval punch made a nice base for the 5-Petal Flower and Boho Blossom.  The cute little button can be purchased currently in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  It’s part of the Twitterpatted Designer Buttons.  The sentiment is from the Loving Thoughts set, also in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I really like how the Melon Mambo flower and sentiment “pop” on this card.  I really like how this card turned out in general.
     Thank for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired.
Hugs,
Leslee
Any current supplies can be purchased here.