Soar

Hi everyone! I've popped in today to share an inspirational Lost Coast Designs sample I created for Linda's paper arts show booth. I used the gorgeous Crane with Flowers stamp that I just love. The detail on this stamp is just amazing! Some believe that if you see a crane flying, it may be drawing your eyes to the heavens, lifting your spirits, and inspiring you to trust in the universe. Isn't that awesome?! :)

I kept with a simple black, white and red color scheme. I embossed the black cardstock using the Fibres Background stamp, some Versamark Dazzle and clear embossing powder, then matted it on red cardstock. I stamped the Crane in red chalk ink, fussy cut it, and adhered it to the background. 

I applied a black eyelet on each side of the Crane's wing, threaded red and white Baker's twine through the eyelets, and tied the twine in a bow. I finished the card with four mini Scrabble tiles in the lower right corner.

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury White and Cherry Red cardstock; Paper and More Black cardstock
• Lost Coast Designs Fibres Background stamp
• Versamark Dazzle
• Ranger clear embossing powder
• Lost Coast Designs Crane with Flowers stamp
• VersaMagic Red Magic dew drop ink
• Mini Scrabble tiles
• Red & white Baker's twine
• Black eyelets

Well, that's it from me today. I hope you're having a great week, and don't forget to peruse the Lost Coast Designs online store for some awesome stamps! Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time!
Hugs,
Leslie

Happy FALL

Hi everyone! I think we've had enough h.o.t. weather here in north Florida. We've had multiple days with temps over 100 degrees and I'm ready for some fall weather! ;) I'm happy to share my Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog DT inspiration project for LTSCB #34 - Scheming Crafters! We're being sponsored this time by the wonderful Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet and Fred, She Said Designs! Come play with us! We want to see your project created with a specific color scheme in mind. Easy peasy! My Happy FALL card features a "fall season" color scheme with brown, red, orange, yellow and green.

My 5-step card base was created with a Silhouette cut file. I purchased cut files for the 4-step, 5-step and 6-step cards about a month ago and cut all three of them in one weekend. Such a unique design and so much fun! I chose the absolutely gorgeous Fallen Maple Leaf digi from Fred, She Said Designs. I printed six of them, colored them all, and fussy cut them with my Silhouette. These gorgeous papers in fall colors were in one of the new double-sided paper pads I just got.

I've had these green embroidered letters in my stash for years and they were not only the perfect color, but the perfect size for the steps on this card base.

I've also had these large green, red and brown chipboard letters in my stash almost as long as the green embroidered ones, so onto the card base they went! I embellished one of the letters with a fallen maple leaf image and another letter with a metal acorn charm.

I decorated the 'staircase' with a cluster of fallen maple leaves and a metal leaf charm. :)

Proud to enter my FALL card into the following challenges:

• That Craft Place: Anything Goes
• Crafting From The Heart: #28 - Anything Goes
• City Crafter Challenge Blog: #220 - Chipboard
• Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog: #186 - Anything Goes
• Sister Act Card Challenge: #66 - Always Anything Goes

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white cardstock
• Bo Bunny Autumn Song 12x12 double-sided papers
• Fred, She Said Fallen Maple Leaf digital image
• Copics: E39, YG67, YR18, R27, Y15
• Clear Wink of Stella
• Green emboidered letters and large chipboard letters from stash
• YNS gold Gumdrops
• Embellish It acorn and leaf charms from boutique Trims

I hope you've found a little inspiration to create a specific color-schemed project for our challenge this time! This one is a lot of fun! And be sure to check out all the fun digis in the Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet and Fred, She Said Designs shops! There's definitely something for everybody! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time!

Hugs,

Leslie

Color Block Faces Note Cards

Hi everyone! I've popped in today to share a set of four note cards I created for Linda with Lost Coast Designs. OMG, this was the most fun technique... stamping on photo paper with distress ink on an acrylic block. Super easy, yielding a most awesome result! ;) I've seen many tutorials on this technique over the last week or so, so I cannot credit just one of them. I have tried stamping with ink on an acrylic block several times over the years and have never been successful. The secret, as I learned recently, is to use photo paper! And don't use the thin stuff... use thicker good quality paper for the best results. These are gorgeous in real life and my photos don't do them justice. Trying to photograph glossy photo paper is very tricky so I only had one light on in my photo box.

I inked up my acrylic block using four different colors of Ranger distress inks, spritzed it with water in a mini mister, and "stamped" the block onto 4x6 sheets of Epson photo paper. They dried rather quickly, and then I stamped the faces in Memento Tuxedo Black, trimmed them, and matted them on black cardstock. I adhered the stamped pieces onto a plain white card base, and voila! Instant striking note cards! Love how these turned out! :)

And here they are individually... Face with Clock ...

... Face with Spiral ...

... Face with Feathers ...

and ... Face with Heart ...

Aren't these just the coolest?! As I said, these are for Linda's paper arts show booth, but I think I'm gonna have to make myself a set. ;) Or two. And maybe some for gifts. Hmmmm...

Recipe:

• White cardstock from stash; Paper and More black cardstock
• Epson 4x6 photo paper
• 3x3 acrylic block
• Ranger distress ink: Wild Honey, Shabby Shutters, Tumbled Glass and Victorian Velvet
• Lost Coast Designs Face with Clock, Face with Spiral, Face with Feathers and Face with Heart
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink

I do hope you're inspired to try stamping with an acrylic block on photo paper. I bet you'll be hooked! Stay tuned because you know I'm not through yet! ;) And do be sure to check the wonderful array of awesome rubber stamps in the Lost Coast Designs online store! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time!

Hugs,

Leslie

Birthday Wishes

Hi everyone! Can you believe it, two posts in one day! Well, it'll probably be after midnight when I actually publish this so it'll technically be tomorrow, so never mind about two posts in one day! ;) Here's a project I created for Lee's StampTV "Stampbossing" challenge. It's a fancy fold out card that I knew as a handkerchief fold way back in the day. Yep, another fun project from the Technique Junkie's 3D and Fun Folds Paper Crafts CD. Inspiration galore!

Okay, Lee's term "Stampbossing" means stamping and embossing together. That's not something I do often, so I enjoyed the challenge. I used stamps from the GKD Spring Blessings stamp set for the stamped and embossed portions, and sentiment stamps from the Birthday Greetings stamp set. The papers I used were from the GKD Wishing You Joy 6x6 paper pack.

This card features eyelet lace, buttons and an attached belly band that's tied with pretty wrinkled ribbon. And of course, I can't forget the main focus of the challenge theme... the stamped flowers that are embossed with a Swiss Dots embossing folder. ;)

Here it's unfolding.

And the center is revealed.

A beautiful stamped sentiment with a dragonfly and gorgeous flowers.

A close-up of one of the corners, unfolded - the stamped flowers embossed with the Swiss Dots embossing folder and some randomly stamped dragonflies embellished with clear Wink of Stella.

And here's a view of the back - more Swiss Dots embossing and the back of the attached belly band. Oh, this was fun! ;)

Proud to enter this birthday card in the following challenges:

• StampTV Weekly Challenge: STV14MON28 - Stampbossing
• Glitter n Sparkle: #93 - Anything Goes
• Crafting From The Heart: #27 - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy Designs Challenge: Strings and Things
• Fan-Tastic Tuesday: #44 - Anything Goes
• Charisma Cardz Challenges: #15 - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog: #186 - Anything Goes
• Scrapping 4 Fun Challenges: #21 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Challenges: #22 - Anything Goes
• The Sisterhood of Crafters: Birthday

Recipe:

• Cream 12x12 paper from stash
• GKD Wishing You Joy 6x6 papers
• GKD Spring Blessings stamp set
• GKD Birthday Greetings stamp set
• Memento Teal Zeal
• Copics: YG61, BG11/15
• Clear Wink of Stella
• Martha Stewart eyelet lace punch around the page
• Small piece of chipboard
• Spellbinders Framed Tags One
• Prairie Bird Boutique teal wrinkled ribbon
• Buttons and gemstones from stash

Well, that's it from me this evening. Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Backpack Mini Album

** 7/26/14 Top 3 Favorite at Shopping Our Stash! **
** 7/28/14 Featured Creation at Scrapping4FunChallenges! **

Hi everyone! I've been on vacation this week and have spent a good bit of time in the scrap room! And yes, I've had some inky fingers! Oh, I know, how horrible is that?! I'm chomping at the bit to share this adorable little Backpack Mini Album I created for my desk at work. I printed a number of photos to put in it but couldn't wait to share, so you'll just have to see it without the photos. It's just so stinkin' cute! :) The tutorial credit goes to the Technique Junkie's Mini Album Mania CD - it's amazing! So many fun projects!

I used some GKD limited edition Wild Orchid cardstock that I got several months ago and have been hoarding, I mean saving, for just the right project! It looks pretty awesome with the K & Co. Jubilee double-sided paper - the colors are almost an exact match.

The little pocket on the front is actually a double pocket and there is a little tag in each one! I haven't decided if I'm going to journal on them or use them for a few additional photos. Hmmmm...

And the back has little straps made of GKD ivory double-stitched ribbon.

Here's a view from the other side.

And here are the inside pages... 10 to be exact... just begging to be filled with little photos of the fam!

And last but not least, a couple close-ups showing the background stamping with the small flower stamp from the GKD Warm Spring Wishes stamp set. I used Ranger Weathered Wood distress ink on the GKD Charcoal Brown cardstock to achieve a watermark-like background so as not to detract from the vibrant patterned paper. I also used a tiny eraser to stamp little dots.

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

• Glitter n Sparkle: #93 - Anything Goes
• Crafting From The Heart: #27 - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy Designs Challenge: Strings and Things
• Fan-Tastic Tuesday: #44 - Anything Goes
• Charisma Cardz Challenges: #15 - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog: #186 - Anything Goes
• Scrapping 4 Fun Challenges: #21 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Challenges: #22 - Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash: #160 - Can't Put It Down (or Away) (double-sided paper!)

Recipe:

• GKD Wild Orchid, Charcoal Brown and Ivory cardstock
• K & Co. Jubilee and Que Sera Sera double-sided papers
• GKD Warm Spring Wishes stamp set
• Ranger Weathered Wood distress ink
• GKD ivory double-stitched ribbon
• GKD brads
• Eyelets from stash

OMG, this was so much fun and I can definitely see more of them in my future! Wouldn't they make awesome little gifts?! Stay tuned for another fun project I'll be posting shortly. Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Best Wishes

Hi everyone! I'm super stoked to share another Lost Coast Designs DT inspiration project for Challenge #2 - Use Only Blue and Green. If you have any Lost Coast Designs stamps, you really need to come play with us! Blue and green makes an awesome color combo and is one my all-time favorites! And you could be the next proud winner of a $10 gift certificate to the Lost Coast Designs online store! What are you waiting for?!

My sister had given me several tall kraft cards with envelopes a while back, so I used one of them for this card. The inked background is a kraft bookmark. I have to say that creating a background is most times as much fun (or more fun) than creating the card itself. Judging by the amount of ink I had on my fingers, most would agree that I had lots of fun creating this one!

Using the DTP technique, I applied VersaMagic Night Sky and Aloe Vera inks, along with some Memento Summer Sky ink, in random fashion, covering the kraft bookmark. I stamped the Lost Coast Designs Cheesecloth Background in Memento Espresso Truffle ink over top the blue and green inks. I then stamped the Lost Coast Designs Corner Swirl in Memento Danube Blue ink in random fashion over top the inks and the background stamp.

Again using the DTP technique, I pressed a Memories Metallic Green cube ink pad down the center of the background piece to create diamond shapes, going off each end. I used a Liquid Gold paint pen to apply tiny dots around each diamond. I just got a package of the coolest little embellishments called Candi Minis at StampFest in Orlando and hadn't used them yet, so I opened the package and applied some green and blue ones to the centers of the diamond shapes. They look so neat!

I matted a large piece of blue cardstock and the inked piece on gold metallic cardstock. I adhered the inked background piece onto the matted blue cardstock, and then wrapped some green twine around the lower portion of the matted blue cardstock. I embossed the Best Wishes sentiment from Lost Coast Designs Party Words in gold and cut it with a SB die, then affixed it over top of the twine. I then adhered the entire unit to the kraft card base.

For the inside, I adhered a long strip of the blue cardstock onto a slightly wider strip of the Metallic Gold cardstock, and adhered them to the left side along with two green Candi Minis. I stamped the vertical birthday sentiment (also from Lost Coast Designs Party Words) just to the right of the decorative strip. You can just barely see it, but I covered the flap of the envelope with a piece of the blue cardstock so it matches the card.

I would love to enter this birthday card into the following challenges:

• Glitter n Sparkle: #93 - Anything Goes
• Crafting From The Heart: #27 - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy Designs Challenge: Strings and Things
• Melonheadz Friends: Tag or Bookmark Challenge
• Clear It Out Challenge Blog: KISS (Keep It Simple Silly... no more than 2 layers)
• Fan-Tastic Tuesday: #44 - Anything Goes
• Addicted To Stamps Challenge Blog: #104 - CAS
• Crafting With Dragonflies Challenge Blog: #30 - CAS Card
• The Sisterhood of Crafters: Birthday
• Fantasy Stampers Challenge Blog: #14 - Clean & Simple

Recipe:

• 8.5" x 3.5" kraft card with envelope
• Canvas Corp 6" x 2" kraft bookmark
• Marco's Venicelux Gold Metallic cardstock; royal blue cardstock from stash
• Lost Coast Designs Cheesecloth Background stamp
• Lost Coast Designs Corner Swirl stamp
• VersaMagic Night Sky andAloe Vera inks
• Memento Summer Sky ink
• Memento Espresso Truffle ink
• Memento Danube Blue ink
• Memories Metallic Green ink
• Lost Coast Designs Party Words
• Versamark
• Ranger Super Fine Gold embossing powder
• Studios Blackbird green twine
• Candi Minis

I hope you've enjoyed seeing this project as much as I enjoyed creating it! I had such a good time! And of course, it helps to have some of the most awesome stamps around... from Lost Coast Designs! Be sure to check them out! Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Believe

Hi everyone! I'm excited to share my Lost Coast Designs DT inspiration project for Challenge #2 - Use Only Blue and Green. If you own any Lost Coast Designs stamps, dig out your blue and green crafty stuff and come play with us! You could be the next winner of a $10 Lost Coast Designs gift certificate! Pretty awesome, huh?! ;)

Blue and green is one of my favorite color combos, and I'm tickled that this color scheme was chosen for our challenge this month! I have tons of blue and green paper in my stash, but I was really drawn to this pretty vintage floral paper which I matted on navy cardstock. I stamped the Believe sentiment in the lower right corner in Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

I stamped the large butterfly, cut it with my Silhouette, colored it with a few Copics, then added some Sakura Stardust pen to the veins in the wings. I added some gorgeous navy wrinkled ribbon and a quad-loop bow, along with some blue sequins, then attached the entire piece to the card base.

This is a note card, so I left the inside blank. I used some coordinating vintage striped paper matted on navy down the left side.

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

• Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: #110 - Anything Goes
• Fan-Tastic Tuesday: #43 - Anything Goes
• Charisma Cardz Challenges: #15 - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog: #185 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz: #239 - Flowers
• Scrapping 4 Fun Challenges: #21 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Challenges: #22 - Anything Goes
• Sister Act Card Challenge: #65 - Always Anything Goes
• Inkspirational Challenges: #60 - Photo Inkspiration (Inspired by the colors)

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury ivory and navy cardstock
• K & Co. Blue Awning double sided paper
• Lost Coast Designs Butterfly Set
• Lost Coast Designs Wish Wisdom Grow Believe Dictionary Words
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Copics: YG61/67, C5, B91/97
• Sakura Stardust pen
• Prairie Bird Boutique navy wrinkled ribbon
• Darice sequns
• Zva Creative gemstones

I hope you have been inspired to create a blue and green project for our challenge this month! Remember, you need to use a Lost Coast Designs stamp to qualify for the prize, so be sure to check out all the wonderful Lost Coast Designs stamps... they don't disappoint! Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Shop Til You Drop

** 7/9/14 Winner at Word Art Wednesday! **

Good morning, everyone! It's very rare that I don't have my posts done in advance but this long weekend got away from me! I got the challenge blog post done but sure forgot to do mine! I'm super stoked to share my Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog DT inspiration project for LTSCB #33 - Anything Goes! We're being sponsored this time by the wonderful Eureka Stamps and A Day For Daisies! Come play with us! We know you love you some Anything Goes! ;)

I had birthday in mind when I started creating, but this card could really be used for any occasion that deserves a celebration and a chance for a girl to shop! I embellished the front with a Graphics 45 die cut, a yellow skeleton leaf and a flower that matches the letters used on the steps inside.

I absolutely love this design! I bought Silhouette cut files for 4-step, 5-step and 6-step cards a couple weekends ago and had a ball cutting them all out in gorgeous new double-sided papers! And what a snap they are to put together! So much fun!

I chose the gorgeous Fashion Bags digi as the focal image which I colored to match the floral paper. I used some letters from my stash and embellished the "o" with a tiny penny charm! So cute!

I mounted the Fashion Bags image on a black "Almost Leather" die cut matted on gold mirror cardstock. And then I gave her a pretty little gold purse!

I created a flag above and below the diagonal stamped sentiment, and embellished them with some red gumdrops.

I added boot and purse die cuts (thanks to my big sis for these) which I lightly embellished with some clear Wink of Stella for just a little zing!

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

• Crafting From The Heart: #26 - Anything Goes
• Ditzie Digi Design: Anything Goes
• Pile It On: #27 - Add Some Flowers
• Scribble and Scrap Challenge and Blog: #22 - Anything Goes
• Paper Makeup Stamps: #148 - Anything Goes
• Sister Act Card Challenge: #64 - Always Anything Goes
• Stamp and Create: July Challenge - Birthdays
• Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: #110 - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments: #46 - Anything Goes/Celebration
• Word Art Wednesday: #139 - Anything Goes

Recipe:

• Kaiser Crafts The Looking Glass double-sided paper
• A Day For Daisies Fashion Bags digital image
• Copics: YG91/93, BG11, E00, R22/24, Y21, YR04
• Spellbinders Labels Eighteen die
• Commotion Almost Leather
• Marco's Gold Mirror cardstock
• Inside sentiment from the YNS Shop Til You Drop stamp set
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• YNS red Gumdrops
• Purse charm; penny charm
• Yellow letters & flower from stash
• Boot and purse die cuts
• Clear Wink of Stella
• Front sentiment from the Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments Collection
• Yellow skeleton leaf
• Stampendous red Dot Sparklers

Hope you've found a little inspiration to create something for our Anything Goes challenge this week! Be sure to visit Eureka Stamps and A Day For Daisies to check out all their fun stamps! They literally have something for everyone! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

It's the Witching Hour

Well, another week has gone by and I'm back to share a couple Halloween note cards I created with the very cool Lost Coast Designs Silhouette Witch stamp. What an awesome stamp this is! This is another fairly simple and non-dimensional design for Linda's booth. The supply list is minimal - in addition to the stamp, I used a stencil, some inks, cardstock and ribbon. And the technique is fun and easy!

I created the background by spritzing a light layer of Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls mist and water onto my craft mat and swirling a piece of watercolor cardstock in the puddle. After giving that a few minutes to dry, I spritzed some Sunset Orange Adirondack color wash over a clock stencil. While that was drying, I cut a background piece from purple cardstock and matted it on orange cardstock, leaving a very thin border. I printed the 'witching hour' sentiment on vellum, trimmed it and attached it to a length of orange/yellow striped ribbon with a mini stapler. I went back to the stenciled background and stamped the witch silhouette in Eggplant ink and ticket-punched the corners. I affixed the ribbon diagonally in the upper right corner, then attached the entire piece to the card base. That's all there was to it!

Recipe:

• Hammermill white cardstock; Tim Holtz watercolor cardstock; purple and orange cardstock from stash
• Lost Coast Designs Silhouette Witch stamp
• VersaMagic Eggplant dew drop ink
• Ranger Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls Mist & water
• The Crafter's Workshop Mini Time Travel stencil
• Ranger Sunset Orange Adirondack color wash
• Studios Blackbird ribbon
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Attacher
• Tiny paperclip

Hope you like my Halloween note cards! Be sure to visit the Lost Coast Designs site to check out the awesome array of stamps! Hope you have a great week and thanks so much for stopping by! We'll see you next time!

Hugs,

Leslie