Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Valentine’s Treats

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     I really hope that I’m not the only crafter that walks through the candy isle at the grocery store and thinks “how can I use that?”  Please tell me I’m not the only one?  These JuJu’s showed up and I knew exactly what I would use them for!  They fit beautifully in our 1”x8” cello bags.  I love these little treat bags.  I use them for every occasion!  Just change up the tag or “topper” to fit the occasion. 

     For this project, I wanted to play with the White Tea Lace Paper Doilies.  I simply sponged the edge in Primrose Petals, wrapped it around the cello bag and thread some White Baker’s Twine through the lacey holes in the doily, tying it in a bow.  The single stamp, Happy Valentine – Heart, was markered direct to stamp using Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose and Primrose Petals.  The stamp coordinates with the Full Heart punch…which makes it perfect for mass producing a bunch of these cute little treat bags.  I attached the 100_5809heart to the doily with Mini Glue Dots

*Points of Interest:  When markering different colors that will touch, always use your lightest marker color first so as not to “muddy” up the lighter colors with the darker color.  I added a little SNAIL to the cello under the doily so that it wouldn’t slide up and off the cello bag.

     I do thank you for stopping in today and sincerely hope that you are inspired to look through the candy isle differently ;)

Hugs,

Leslee

Click the “Shop Now” tab above to purchase any of these fine Stampin’ Up! products :)  The JuJu candies were found at the local grocery store :)  I’ve been through two containers now :0

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Hearts & More Amore

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     This was another project we did for January Stamp Club.  I really am enjoying the More Amore Specialty DSP.  The laser cut hearts are adorable.  100_5798For this card, I cut apart the hearts…they are so fancy!  A Full Heart punched in Very Vanilla with the edges sponged in Primrose Petals is popped up on Dimensionals.  Two Small Hearts punched in coordinating DSP top that.  The sentiment was markered (marker omit/direct to stamp) from a stamp found in the My Little Valentine set.  I then ran it through the Big Shot using the Bitty Banners Framelits and embossed the hearts on the Pool Party panel with the Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing folder.  Hearts, hearts everywhere! 

*Just keep in mind, hearts are one directional.  So, make sure you have them all going in the direction you want them too :)

     Thanks for stopping in.  I hope you’ve been inspired to pop a heart on your project today.

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies can be purchased by clicking on the “Shop Now” tab above.

Monday, January 28, 2013

A Little Amore

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     We made these little 3”x3” cards at our January Stamp Club.  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, this More Amore Specialty DSP is simply perfect.  Since I have several fellas in my house, this gray patterned paper has just a little more masculine feel to it.  I kept it simple by punching a Full Heart out of the DSP and adding only a single Small Heart punched in Red Glimmer Paper and some scalloped dry embossing.  It was the perfect way to get a feel for using the new Simply Scored Borders Plate (found in the Spring 2013 Catalog).  Yes!  I love it!  The sentiment is from the hostess set, Wacky Wishes.  I, also, made a coordinating envelope by adding DSP to the envelope flap.  Such an easy way to go the extra mile :) 

          Thanks for popping by today.  I’m so glad you did.  I hope you’ve been inspired to make a little love for someone special in your life.

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies can be purchased by clicking the “Shop Now” tab above.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Marvelous Sketch! CTS#12

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     I recently came upon a new clean and simple card challenge blog, CAS(E) this Sketch!  I really like what I saw and knew that it would be a good place to start when the mojo just isn’t making an appearance or time isn’t available…or a little of both.  So, when I sat down to create for my upcoming Sale-A-Bration workshop, I knew just where to go.  This week’s sketch, CTS#12, is a beauty and allows for some creative wiggle room.

     I kept my interpretation of the sketch pretty exact, very clean and very simple, as I will be using this at my SAB workshop.  It features the SAB set, Bloomin’ Marvelous, and the Print Poetry DSP Stack that you can find in the Spring 2013 Catalog.  The colors were picked right out of the DSP: Midnight Muse, Crumb Cake, Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit and Very Vanilla.  Don’t you just love how beautifully they coordinate?  I do!  The flower was ‘built’ using the masking technique with the flower stamp and leaf stem stamp in the Bloomin’ Marvelous set (I just like saying “Bloomin’ Marvelous”).

     I’m submitting this card over on the CAS(E) this Sketch! site.  I don’t get a chance to play along that often.  Click on over and check out the other submissions for CTS#12 …they are all pretty ‘marvelous’!  Thanks for stopping by today.  I’m so glad you did :)  I hope you’ve been inspired to CAS(E) this Sketch! too.

Hugs,
Leslee

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

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

No Masking Fluid?

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     Let me first apologize for the poor quality photos.  These pictures really don’t do these projects any justice :( 

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     I have seen several crafters out in blogland using a product called masking fluid.  Now, I don’t own any masking fluid nor does Stampin’ Up! carry masking fluid (hence the reason I don’t own any).  However, I really like the effect that masking fluid has on the projects I’ve seen.  So, as not to be out done, I set my brain to figure out just what I can use to give us the same effect.  I came up with this… 

     The technique is basically an Emboss Resist Technique.  I wet an old toothbrush with plain water and then dipped it into a puddle of VersaMark Re-Inker.  I used my thumb to then flick the ink off the toothbrush onto the Whisper White card stock.  I stamped my trees from the Lovely As A Tree set (an all-time favorite) in Early Espresso and used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to offset more stamped trees, this time in VersaMark (the Shadow Technique).  Cover it all in Clear Embossing Powder, heat set with the 100_5719Heat Tool and sponge on Marina Mist in the sky.  This reveals the “snow” that we flicked onto the card stock and the offset trees is the snow collecting on the branches.  Really, really awesome effect!! 

     This was a project that we did in my December Stamp Clubs.  The gals really enjoyed the technique.  I love that I came up with a Stampin’ Up! version to masking fluid.  :)  That makes me happy!

     I hope you’ve been inspired to use the products that you have on hand.  If you have any questions about this “technique”, feel free to contact me.  I love to share :)

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Friday, January 18, 2013

Multiple Gift Cards Holder

100_5740100_5731         I know that the Christmas season is over and all the decorations are packed away (well, maybe) but I had to share with you this super simple Multiple Gift Cards Holder.  Let’s face it, we can give gift cards for ANY occasion…all throughout the year.  Simply change the paper/theme/wording.  This could hold up to four gift cards.  I only have three in mine and have100_5725 used the last pocket area for signing.  Like I said, it is super simple.  If you’d like to learn how, just let me know. 

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to continue giving throughout the year :)

Hugs,100_5727

Leslee

Supplies can be purchased here.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Snowman Bag-A-Lope

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     My upline, the talented Susan Elise Morton, had shared this project in one of her newsletters.  I decided that it just had to be made at our December stamp club meeting.  He’s just so darn cute!  The ‘bag’ is made from one of Stampin’ Up! ’s Medium Whisper White Envelopes and the Simply Scored Tool.  If you’d like to know how-to, just let me know.  I’d love to share it with you.  The little ‘ear muffs’ is a small pom made with the Pool Party Baker’s Twine.  Of course, the snowflakes stamped on the tissue paper is a coordinating must!  He’s the perfect size for a small hand cream, lip balm and small hand sanitizer :) …or what ever little goody you’d like to give.  The best part…he won’t melt!  AND…he’ll simply warm the heart of the lucky recipient!

     I hope you’ve been inspired to build a snowman!

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies can be purchased here.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Advent Bingo

     I’m so sorry.  I realize that I have been missing in action for quite some time now.  It was a much needed break.  My doctor said to put “NO” at the top of my vocabulary.  That really is a difficult word for me to say.  I still had plenty of commitments to keep and, unfortunately, blogging is one of those things to be put off by the wayside :(  It’s not as though I wasn’t crafting and I have tons to show.  Most of my crafting was holiday goodies and/or cards.  Seems a bit late to be showing you those now.  However, I will post the most significant projects.  Things I think you could do any time throughout the year…simply change up the theme :)  Or, you can tuck the idea away for next holiday season.  I miss blogging and I hope to get back into the swing of things quickly.  Enjoy!

     Every year since my oldest was old enough to understand (about 4…he’s 13 now), we have done an advent calendar to countdown the days until Christmas.  Every morning, he would call his grandmother and together they would open that day’s advent “window”.  It was fun to see just what picture was hidden and if they were the same…well, that was just special.  It was something my mom had started since she was missing her grandbabies…a way to get to talk to them every day.  As my youngest grew, he too got in on the fun.  We now include my sister who has moved away to yet another state.  You may remember, last year I made Peek-a-boo Frames advent calendars for everyone.  This year, was just a little different but, I have to tell you, so much fun!!  

100_5666     Being in the pinch that I was, I came up with this super-quick-to-make advent calendar.  We called it Advent Bingo.  Using the Jolly Bingo Bits set, I randomly stamped the images onto a bingo grid that I had done up on the computer.  The “free space” is the Merry Christmas stamp from the Mixed Medley hostess set that was in the Holiday Catalog.  Then, I randomly stamped on the numbers 1 – 24.  Again, I made four of these (one for each of my boys, one for my mom and one for my sister).  The rules were simple and printed on the back of each card: 

One number will be randomly drawn each day.

Phone calls will be made to see just what picture you get.

There are games within the countdown.

· First to get five in a row (BINGO)

· First to get a double bingo

· First to get four corners

· First to get an “X”

· First to get outside square

· First to get inside square

Of course, we all will completely cover our cards on the same day.

     We had SO much fun playing this each day!  The boys looked forward to “Bingo Time”!  We would three-way call so all of us could be on the line together.  We will do this again next Christmas.  Only, I think I will have to make a card for my husband, my dad and my brother-in-law too!  Oh…and I had little handmade prizes for each “winner” as well (I’ll leave those for another posting).  Truly, we are ALL winners!  We were able to spend quality time together…even though we are hundreds of miles apart.  I miss my family and this sure helped to bring us all close together every day even though it was only for a short while!  Adam said to me midway through the month, “Mom, I really like this game!”  Isn’t that “beast” coming from a 9 year old!

     I’ll leave you with words from my little one, “Is it bingo time yet?!”  I hope you’ve been inspired to create some fun.  Perhaps start a new tradition in your family.

Hugs,

Leslee

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