With Sympathy

Hello, my crafty friends! Hope you're having a great week. They seem to be going by faster and faster - this month has literally flown by. My guest designer gig for 4 Crafty Chicks is quickly coming to an end. What fun this has been, and I thank Lori, Leanne, Tamie and Tina for this opportunity! My inspiration project for 4CC #191 - Embossing is a sympathy card that I created with one of the gorgeous GKD February new release stamp sets.

I created a dry embossed sweet mango background with two different embossing folders and matted it on navy cardstock for some good contrast. The navy ribbon and bow accented this very nicely.

I used soft muted water colors for the iris (created with Memento inks and a Niji waterbrush), along with red gumdrops to bring out the bold color I chose for the center of the flower, and added a pretty white pearl flourish.

Here's a peek at the inside. What a beautiful sentiment!

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white, sweet mango and navy cardstock
• GKD Stately Flowers 8 stamp set
• GKD Sympathy Duo stamp set
• Memento Danube Blue, Morocco, Lady Bug, Bamboo Leaves and Tuxedo Black ink
• Niji waterbrush
• Copic: R24
• Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Tim Holtz Texture Fades Stripes embossing folders
• Spellbinders Fancy Framed Tags One
• Studios Blackbird ribbon
• YNS red gumdrops
• Want2Scrap white pearl swirl

Well, that's it from me today - I do hope you're inspired to play in our embossing challenge this week! Whether you dry emboss or use heat, it's super easy and lots of fun! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time!
Hugs,
Leslie

Surprise!

Hi everyone! I'm totally stoked to share my Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog DT inspiration project for LTSCB #28 - Scraplift This! We've challenged our designers, guest designers and participants to scraplift (that's scrapper lingo for "steal") 3 or more elements from Cathy's layout and use them on your project! Here's Cathy's gorgeous layout:

This is going to be a blast - come play with us! Our sponsors this time are the wonderful Fred, She Said Designs and Dr. Digi's House of Stamps and each of them are offering a pretty awesome prize!

I chose that tantalizing bunny, Martini Bianca, from Dr. Digi's House of Stamps for my fun Easter card! The elements I scraplifted from Cathy's layout are the fancy border, a few of the colors (mainly orange and some blue), the large circle and the number 3 (3 orange roses, 3 peach roses, 3 gold gumdrops and 3 layers of fancy border).

I just can't tell you how much fun I had with this image, layering the coordinating papers and arranging all the elements I lifted from Cathy's layout! I stamped "Surprise!" in a vertical fashion for some fun! And of course I had to create a pretty big bow!

And I have to tell you that I ended up putting a bathing suit on Bianca since this is a family-friendly blog! She was showing a little tooooo much skin! Bwahaha! But I just love her!

I kept the inside relatively simple with some layering and a Happy Easter greeting.

Proud to enter my whimsical Easter card into the following challenges:

• That Craft Place: Anything Goes/Easter
• The Squirrel and The Fox: #68 - Use a Diecut or Punch
• Robyn's Fetish: #208 - Square Cards
• Sweet Stampin': Lots of Layers
• Totally Gorjuss: #232 - Die cuts/punches
• Melonheadz Friends: Easter Challenge
• Ooh La La Creations: #154 - Easter/Spring
• Pause Dream Enjoy: Linky Party #8 - Anything Goes
• Through The Purple Haze:  #38 - Creativity Strikes
• Crafting From The Heart: #15 - Anything Goes

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury ivory and charcoal brown cardstock; DCWV textured rust cardstock
• My Mind's Eye Unforgettable and Howdy Doody 6x6 papers
• Dr. Digi's House of Stamps Martini Bianca digital image
• Copics: E000/00/11/37/99, C1/3/5, R24, B91
• Stamp Camp Simple Sentiments 1
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Spellbinders Classic Circles dies
• SNS Scallop border die
• Studios Blackbird ribbon
• YNS gold gumdrops; single gold flat-back pearl
• WOC flowers

I hope you've been inspired a little bit to play with us this time! You have our permission to scraplift! Teeheehee! And be sure to check out all the amazing digis at Fred, She Said Designs and Dr. Digi's House of Stamps! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Friends are special treasures

Hi everyone! Well, we've had another burst of chilly weather here in north Florida over the last couple days, dipping down into the 30s at nighttime with highs in the upper 60s during the day. Absolutely gorgeous! To be honest, I could dig weather like this year-round! ;)

It's hard to believe we're already into week #3 of my April guest designer gig with 4 Crafty Chicks! My inspiration project for 4CC #190 - Sentiment Only is a coaster card featuring an awesome embossed friendship sentiment matted on silver foil cardstock. And yes, you read that right... I used a square coaster!

I used six beautiful bold spring kinda colors of Adirondack color wash to completely cover the coaster, then spritzed a handmade Perfect Pearl mist over top of the color wash to give it some shimmer. I embossed the sentiment with embossing tinsel and matted it on silver foil cardstock. I really love how this turned out - unfortunately the photos don't show how stunning those shimmering colors are! ;)

I kept the inside simple with a stamped "I miss you" sentiment.

Proud to enter my coaster card into the following challenges:

• Through The Purple Haze: #37 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Challenges: #16 - Anything Goes
• Addicted To Stamps Challenge Blog: #91 - Anything Goes
• Rhedd and Rosie's Challenge Blog: Anything Goes... 30th Challenge
• Mod Squad Challenge Blog: Spring Color Challenge (pick three or more colors)

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white and navy cardstock; Bazzill Basics silver foil cardstock; dark green cardstock from stash
• Blockheads Paper Arts square coaster
• Adirondack Cranberry, Sunset Orange, Lettuce, Stream, Denim and Purple Twilight Color Wash
• Perfect Pearl handmade mist
• Pink Cat Studio Friendship Stamps stamp set
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Versamark Dazzle
• Ranger Bridal Embossing Tinsel

I hope you're inspired to play with us this week in our Sentiment Only challenge! Using a sentiment as the focal image really is a challenge! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time!

Hugs,

Leslie

Happy 80th Birthday!

Hi everyone! We're already into week #2 of my April guest designer gig with 4 Crafty Chicks! Where has the first quarter of this year gone?! My inspiration project for 4CC #189 - Use Polka Dots is another one of those cute pop-up box cards. I made my first one back in mid January (HERE if you'd like to take a peek) after I had seen the tutorial in a Splitcoast Stampers newsletter. It was so much fun that I decided to make another one - this time a Happy Birthday for a co-worker's mother-in-law who will be turning 80 this month! ;)

The sweet mother-in-law is still quite active and works in her garden regularly, so at the recommendation of my co-worker, I went with a gardening theme - complete with a garden gal, little veggie seed packets, flowers, and a little bottle of seeds! ;)

Her age is displayed with large chipboard numbers as the main focal point of the card. I used a cute little garden gal digi which I nestled among all the little seed packets. I also added a variety of felt flowers.

I stamped the birthday sentiment on a square die cut, matted it on a pretty scalloped die cut and adhered it to the front flap.

In addition to the garden gal and felt flowers, several little seed packets of peppers, peas and organic tomatoes, a branch with tiny pearls, chipboard hearts and a heart paper clip are the embellishments that pop up when the card is opened. What fun!

Check out the little bottle of seeds tied with brown twine! Isn't it great?! I thought this was an awesome touch - it contains real flax seed, wheat and barley! ;)

Here's a peek at the front which I decorated with more of the stamped seed packets and a chipboard flower. And you can also see the polka dot paper on the outside of the box which is the focus of our challenge theme this week.

Oh, and I should mention that the most uber awesome thing about this card is that it folds flat for mailing! How cool is that?!

I'd love to enter this adorable pop-up box card into the following challenges:

• Pause Dream Enjoy: PDE Linky Party #7 - 3-D Projects
• Through The Purple Haze: #36 - Try A New Folding Technique
• Crafting For All Seasons Challenge Blog: #74 - Dies and Punches
• Rhedd & Rosie's Challenge Blog: #30 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Challenge Blog: #15 - Anything Goes
• Paper Crafting Journey: For That Special Lady
• Time Out Challenges: #3 - Happy Birthday
• Hobbybook Designer Challenge: 2 or More Die Cuts

Recipe:

• Blue cardstock from stash; Heartfelt Creations clear cardstock
• Blue/green polka dot and coordinating shades of blue paper from stash
• Papermania Home To Nest mini clear stamps
• GKD Happy Birthday stamp set duo
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Robyn's Fetish Heloise Garden Gal digital image
• Copics: E00/11/35, YR09/15, Y00/15/17, B91/95, G20/24, YG11/63/67/93, R00/23/25/27
• Spellbinders Classic Rectangles, Scalloped Rectangles and Foliage dies
• Chipboard numbers, flowers and hearts from stash
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology glass vial
• Brown Studios Blackbird twine
• Michaels white, yellow and purple felt flowers
• Branch die cut
• White and yellow flat-back pearls

I hope you've found a little inspiration here to play in our polka dot challenge this week! C'mon, you can do it! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

A Happy Hello

Hi everyone! I'm excited to share my Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog DT inspiration project for LTSCB #27 - Anything Goes! Come play with us - we know you love Anything Goes! Our sponsors this time are SweetStamps and Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet!

I created a pretty note card using several digital papers from the Painted Garden Paper Pack 1 by Panda Bear Designs with Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet. I love these papers! If this doesn't scream Spring, I don't know what does! ;) This was a super fun and super easy project that I paired with stamped greenery and a sentiment. I left the inside blank since it is a note card.

I printed four digi papers from the pack (all on antique linen cardstock), created the circle and lacey circle die cuts for the focal image along with the rectangular pieces. I stamped the image and sentiment, and matted all the elements on dark green cardstock, then started layering. I added some pretty green stitched ribbon and bow, along with some pink gemstones and a couple white flat-back pearls, and she was finished! I love how this turned out!

I'd love to enter this pretty spring card into the following challenges:

• Challenges 4 Everybody: #40 - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations: April Challenge - Use Those Dies and/or Punches
• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges: #62 - Yipes, Stripes!
• Crafty Catz: #225 - Springtime
• Pile It On: #14 - Feminine
• Use Your Stuff Challenge Blog: #130 - Spring
• Melonheadz Friends - Time For Spring Challenge
• Fantasy Stampers Challenge Blog: #7 - Silhouettes
• The Pink Elephant: TPE 245 - Photo Inspiration Challenge (see photo below)

The Pink Elephant inspiration photo

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white cardstock; Marco's Antique Linen white cardstock; dark green cardstock from stash
• Painted Garden Paper Pack 1 by Panda Bear Designs with Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet
• GKD Heartfelt stamp set (image and sentiment)
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• GKD Fresh Asparagus stitched ribbon
• Pink gemstones and white flat-back pearls

I hope you're inspired to create a fun project for our Anything Goes challenge this time! To get your mojo running, be sure to check out all the fun stamps and goodies available from SweetStamps and Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Birthday Blessings

**  4/7/14 Winner at Eureka Stamps! **

Hi everyone! The weather has been absolutely gorgeous in north Florida and the hubster is outside grilling some chicken wings. I'm back with my final project this weekend - one more card using stamps contained in the awesome GKD Shabby Spring StampTV kit. You know, I've had this kit for about two weeks and haven't been able to play, so I made sure I found some time to create a couple projects with it this weekend. ;)

This birthday card also has a DIY background - large and small leaf sprigs stamped in distress ink. I purposely didn't wash the leaf sprig stamps prior to using because I didn't want the ink to grab. What usually happens to me when I don't wash stamps prior to use is the ink beads up in spots and is sparse in other spots, and that's what I wanted this time. It turned out nice!

I stamped the flowers on 35-lb vellum and embossed in gold, colored and matted it and the background piece on bubble gum pink cardstock. I added some gorgeous ivory organdy ribbon along with a triple-loop bow. To finish, I stamped and embossed a small butterfly on a Vintage Cuts die cut from the kit and positioned it like it was coming in for a landing on the flower!

I kept the inside simple with a stamped birthday sentiment.

Proud to enter this birthday card into the following challenges:

• Mod Squad Challenge Blog: Let's DIY!
• StampTV Mix It Up Monday: STV14MON13 Challenge - Celebrate Spring
• Eureka Stamps Weekly Challenge: #83 - Spring Flowers
• City Crafter Challenge Blog: Week 205 - Easter / Spring
• Loves Rubber Stamps: #97 - Anything Goes

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury Ivory and Bubble Gum Pink cardstock
• 35-lb vellum
• GKD Spring Blessings stamp set
• GKD Warm Spring Wishes stamp set
• Versamark
• Ranger extra fine detail gold embossing powder
• Antique Linen distress ink
• Copics: R81/83, YG63/67
• VersaColor Opera Pink ink
• GKD Vintage Cuts (small butterfly)
• GKD ivory organdy ribbon, 3/8" and 5/8"
• Champagne flat-back pearls

Well, that's it from me this weekend. I've got another load of laundry to finish, then I'll be kicking back for the evening! Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

So very sorry

** 4/8/14 Winner at Mod Squad Challenge Blog! **
** 4/12/14 Winner at Fantasy Stampers Challenge Blog! **
**4/15/14 DT Favorite at Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog! **

I'm back this evening to share another card I created with a DIY background and a very minimal list of supplies. Lots of fun and lots of inky fingers! ;)

I inked this background, using the DTP technique (my fav), with six colors of Memento ink, stamped some background text and embossed the flowers in gold. I really like the bold chunky look of this. To keep the CAS thing going on, I simply wrapped gold thread around a plain kraft cardstock background, then adhered the focal image piece to the background with dimensional foam pads.

This sentiment is so simple but yet so beautiful, powerful and versatile... this could easily be used for sympathy, an accident, illness, surgery, a break-up, etc.

Proud to enter this CAS card into the following challenges:

• Mod Squad Challenge Blog: Let's DIY!
• V's Sweet Challenge Blog: #22 - Technique Challenge (DTP inked background)
• Stamplorations Blog: April Challenge - Stamps & Favorite Technique (DTP inked background)
• Fantasy Stampers Challenge Blog: #7 - Silhouettes
• Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge Blog: #97 - Anything Goes

Recipe:

• GKD Dark Chocolate and Cranberry Tart cardstock; The Paper Cut Brown Bag cardstock
• GKD Botanicals stamp set
• Memento inks: Bamboo Leaves, Teal Zeal, Pear Tart, Paris Dusk, Rhubarb Stalk and Tuxedo Black
• Ranger fine detail gold embossing powder
• Gold thread

That's it... how's this for a minimal list of supplies?! And really easy and fun! Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Congratulations on your new home

Well, I treated myself to a little more time in the scrap room this evening and created another couple cards. For this new home card, I created a DIY background with two colors of alcohol ink, mixative gold and blending solution. I used stamps from both of the stamp sets contained in the awesome new GKD Shabby Spring StampTV kit. I followed a sketch which also required using the colors peony pink, blush and tangerine. I'm known for modifying sketches (I'm a rebel like that), plus I added cranberry and gold. I really, really like how this turned out! ;)

This was a very easy background - all I did was drop the alcohol inks and mixative gold onto watercolor cardstock from about 12 inches, then add blending solution until I got the colors I wanted - graduating from darker at the top to lighter at the bottom. Then I hit it with the heat tool for a minute or two to set the ink (and help dry it), trim it and mat it. 

I created a double-layer scalloped border, added some lace, bling, ribbon and a ribbon slide, then stamped the two bird cages onto the background.

I then stamped the sentiment on a stitched flag die cut and adhered it, along with some flat-back pearls, in the lower right corner.

I stamped a simple sentiment on the inside.

I'd love to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Mod Squad Challenge Blog: Let's DIY!
• A Gem of a Challenge: #116 - Use Ribbon and Lace
• Country View Challenges: #4 - New Beginnings (new home)
• V's Sweet Challenge Blog: #22 Technique Challenge (background created with alcohol inks)
• Poppy Sketches Challenge Blog: Poppy Sketch #1 w/ a Pop of Color (I turned the sketch on it's side)

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white and cranberry tart cardstock; Tim Holtz watercolor cardstock
• GKD Warm Spring Wishes stamp set (bird houses and front sentiment)
• GKD Spring Blessings stamp set (inside sentiment)
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Ranger Adirondack alcohol inks: Cranberry, Sunset Orange, and Mixative Gold (and blending solution)
• Memory Box Pearl Lace die
• Lil Inker Designs Stitched Sentiment Flag die
• Craftime Enchanted cotton lace
• Tangerine organza ribbon and gemstones
• Pewter ribbon slide

Thanks so much for stopping by! Stay tuned for one more DIY background project! I really should be in bed but I'm too wound up to sleep! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Grow note cards

Hi everyone! I've been playing in my stash of Lost Coast Designs stamps and am back today to share another pair of note cards. I love the emboss resist technique and don't seem to use it near enough, so I used it with the gorgeous Shrubbery stamp and three distress inks to create the backgrounds, and the Grow stamp from the Dictionary Words set to create the sentiment block.

The Shrubbery stamp is an awesome size - large enough to create two backgrounds. After embossing the image, I sponged on the green, then the violet and finally the blue distress inks and then wiped off any excess ink. I cut the large image in two, trimmed the edges and matted the backgrounds on navy blue crinkle cardstock.

I stamped the sentiment in blue ink, trimmed it and matted it on the navy blue crinkle cardstock. I affixed it to the background, then adhered the background to the card base. These were definitely fun to make and very easy! ;)

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury ivory cardstock; The Paper Cut navy blue crinkle cardstock
• Lost Coast Designs Shrubbery stamp
• Lost Coast Designs Dictionary Words set
• Ranger clear embossing powder
• Ranger distress inks: Shabby Shutters, Victorian Velvet and Tumbled Glass
• Memento Danube Blue ink

You really should check out all the amazing stamps that Lost Coast Designs has to offer! OMG - the selection of images and the quality can't be beat! I hope you have a terrific weekend, and thanks so much for stopping by!
Hugs,
Leslie

Million Little Things

Hi everyone! I'm super stoked to be April's guest designer for 4 Crafty Chicks! I'm really looking forward to it - this month is going to be loads of fun! My inspiration project for 4CC #188 - Coloring Stamped Image is a beautiful CAS thank you card I created with a GKD stamp set that I just love! Come play with us! We want to see your projects with a colored stamped image! Couldn't get any easier than that! ;)

Can you tell I'm ready for spring?! If only it could stay spring for a little while and not turn into a full-blown hot Florida summer! ;)

I used multiple shades of each color - purple, aqua, red, yellow, blue and green - for these awesome little flowers, starting with the darkest color in the center, then lighter, then lightest around the outside perimeter. I finished them with some clear Wink of Stella, my new shimmer love! And look, ma, no embellishments! How did that happen?! :)

The simple sentiment on the inside is another GKD stamp.

I'm proud to enter this pretty thank you card into the following challenges:

• StampTV Mix It Up Monday: STV14MON13 Challenge - Celebrate Spring
• Eureka Stamps Weekly Challenge: #83 - Spring Flowers
• Crafty Girls Challenges: #15 - Anything Goes
• Melonheadz Friends: Time For Spring Challenge
• City Crafter Challenge Blog: Week 205 - Easter / Spring
• Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge Blog: #97 - Anything Goes
• Oldie but A goodie: April Showers (black cardstock-1.5 years, Copics-4 years)
• Addicted To Stamps Challenge Blog: #89 - CAS
• Word Art Wednesday: #126 - Anything Goes
• V's Sweet Challenge Blog: #22 - Technique Challenge (CAS, coloring)

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white cardstock; Paper and More black cardstock
• GKD Million Little Things stamp set
• GKD Natures Greetings stamp set
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Copics: R24/27/89, Y17, YR09/18, BG000/11/45, B91/93/97, BV11/13/17, YG61/63
• Wink of Stella (clear)

I hope you've found some inspiration to play with us this week... all that's required is to create a project with a colored stamped image! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Broken Follow/Join Button

Hi everyone! You've undoubtedly encountered the very irritating broken Follow/Join button here on Blogger. I'm told "they are aware of the issue and are working on it." Okay. Yeah. Well, I've found a get-around for following/joining but not for unfollowing. I'm still working on that!

Here's what you need to do:

• Go to your Blogger Dashboard and click My Blogs (upper left). 
• At the bottom of your list of blogs, you'll see your Reading List. 
• Then just underneath that, you'll see Add. 
• Click Add and either type or paste the URL of the site you want to follow. There will be a choice to follow publicly or privately, like there's always been. 

Hope this helps! Feel free to share this post - I've made it a sticky post to stay on top for a little while. Hopefully Blogger will get this issue fixed soon. :)

Hugs,
Leslie


UPDATE: I checked today (4/5/14) and the broken Follow/Join button has been fixed! Yay! Not sure when they fixed it or how long it'll last, but we're good for now! :)