Happy Birthday

Hi everyone! Can you believe this month now is almost over?! We're getting closer and closer to Christmas and then we'll be embracing a new year! Wow, this year has flown by. It's time for another fun challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and more, and I'm happy to share my DT inspiration project for CCM #124 - Triple B Challenge, hosted by teammie, Pamellia! She's challenging you to create a project containing at least three of these five things beginning with B:

butterflies

blue

birthday

banners

buttons

My Bs are blue, birthday, banner and buttons. I created the background by stamping on photo paper with ink on a small acrylic block. This is one of my favorite techniques that I learned several months ago. It's super easy and packs a very nice punch! I simply inked up an acrylic block with ink, spritzed it with water in a mini mister, and stamped it on photo paper, then repeated the process with several more colors of blue ink. After giving it a few minutes to dry, I stamped the floral images, cut it with a matting die and matted it on navy blue cardstock, cut with a slightly larger matting die.

After rounding the corners on the card base to match the other layered elements, I matted another layer of white onto navy cardstock (cut with matting dies), and adhered it to the card base. I popped the stamped focal image up on 3-D foam pads and affixed it to layered card base. I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment on a hand-cut banner, added a few tiny blue Dot Sparklers, and adhered it at an angle to the focal image. I finished the front with the buttons.

I stamped the inside sentiment on a square die cut and adhered it to the inside.

Proud to enter this birthday card into the following challenges:

• Scribble and Scrap: #28 - Anything Goes
• The Squirrel and The Fox: #78 - Birthday
• Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge: Birthday Celebration/Anything Goes
• Simply Create Too: #71 - It's A Special Occasion
• Sister Act Card Challenge: #76 - Anything Goes
• A Creative Romance: In The Garden
• Crafty Girls Challenges: #27 - Anything Goes
• Seize The Birthday: Pennants and/or Banners
• Time Out Challenges: #15 - Stamping
• Simon Says Stamp Blog Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white and navy cardstock
• GKD Springtime Silhouettes stamp set
• GKD Birthday Greetings stamp set
• 4x6 Epson photo paper
• Ranger Faded Jeans distress ink
• Memento Summer Sky, Danube Blue and Paris Dusk inks
• 1-7/8" square acrylic block
• Spellbinders Classic Squares and A2 Curved Matting Basics A & B dies
• Stampendous Dot Sparklers, blue
• White buttons

I hope you've found a little inspiration to create a project for our Triple B challenge this time! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Celebrate!

Hi everyone! My guest design gig is still going strong at Card Mania Challenges and I'm back this morning to share my inspiration project for CMC #56 - Use A Doily. Come play with us! We're being sponsored this time by the amazing A Day For Daisies! We want to see your project with... you got it... a doily! I absolutely love doilies - I have them all over my house because my dear mother made them for us girls throughout the years. What keepsakes they are, and I hold each and every one of them near and dear to my heart! ;)

I chose the darling ADFD Talking To The Moon digi for my birthday card. Isn't she just the most precious little thing?! I fussy cut the image with my Silhouette and adhered it to a large circle die cut matted on a scalloped circle die cut, both also cut with my Silhouette, which I chopped off even with the right side of the card for an interesting look.

Of course I added a doily along with a rectangular stamped and matted frame and filler element on which I stamped the Celebrate sentiment. 

I kept the inside simple, as I often do, stamping only Happy Birthday and matting the background on some Pearl Metallic cardstock.

So happy to enter my Celebrate card into the following challenges:

• Sister Act Card Challenge: #75 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Challenges: #27 - Anything Goes
• A Creative Romance: Anything Goes
• Scribble & Scrap: #27 - Anything Goes
• That Craft Place: Sentimental
• Crafting From The Heart: #27 - Anything Goes
• My Craft Creations: Anything Goes
• Crafty Boots Challenges: Anything Goes
• Love To Create Challenge Blog: #134 - Fussy Cut

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock; Marco's Venicelux Gold Metallic cardstock; Marco's Venicelux Pearl Metallic cardstock; Marco's Antique Linen Ivory cardstock; DCWV Mardi Gras and Bozo cardstock from the Reds multi-stack
• GKD Garden Tour 6x6 papers
• Talking To The Moon digital image from A Day For Daisies
• Copics: E01, R00/83/85/89, Y06/17, YR18
• Clear Wink of Stella
• Circle and scalloped circle Silhouette cut files
• GKD Frame and Filler stamps
• Memento Espresso Truffle
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Bo Bunny doily
• Yellow Prairie Bird Boutique wrinkled ribbon
• Champagne flat-back pearls and pink gemstones

That's it from me this time. I hope you're inspired to play in our Use A Doily challenge this time! And be sure to check out all the fun digital images in the A Day For Daisies online shop! I haven't seen one yet that I didn't just love! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Autumn Blessings

Howdy, crafty friends! I'm making my second appearance over at Fantasy Stampers Challenge Blog as guest designer and am very happy to share my inspiration project for the midway motivation post for the Autumn Colors challenge going on right now! Come play with us! We want to see your project created with autumn colors using this picture as your inspiration:

Isn't that photo just gorgeous?! My fall fever is getting worse by the day as it is, and this photo certainly didn't help! LOL! The inspiration for my project came from the colors (brown, red, orange and yellow) and the leaves.

I used the Gina K Designs Autumn Blessings and Harvest of Wishes stamp sets for my all occasion card that could be used for a birthday or just because. I dug out some more double-sided papers (I know, I know... I need to enter the 12-step program!) for my background and accent strip. I matted all the paper elements on the front and inside with tomato soup cardstock.

I added some loose loops of twine under the focal image and some gorgeous stamped metal brads.

I used several new leaf dies and assorted cardstock scraps to create some gorgeous leaf die cuts to use across the top.

And I used a few of the leaf die cuts on the inside along with the stamped sentiment.

Proud to enter my Autumn Blessings card into the following challenges:

• Sister Act Card Challenge: #75 - Anything Goes
• Simply Create Too: #70 - Fall/Autumn
• Crafty Girls Challenges: #27 - Anything Goes
• 4 Crafty Chicks: #212 - Fall
• A Creative Romance: Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts: #57 - Happy Fall Y'all
• Cute Card Thursday: #339 - Awesome Autumn!
• DRS Designs: #140 - Inspired By Color (use some of the colors in the inspiration photo below)

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury Ivory and Tomato Soup cardstock; light brown, mustard and salmon cardstock scraps
• Bo Bunny Autumn Song double-sided 12x12 papers
• GKD Autumn Blessings stamp set (front images and sentiment)
• GKD Harvest of Wishes stamp set (inside sentiment)
• Memento Espresso Truffle and Rich Cocoa ink
• Copics: YR01/18, YG63, BG000, Y17, C5, R24
• Cottage Cutz dies - Leaf Mini, Oak Leaf Mini and Maple Leaf Mini
• Sakura Stardust pen
• Tonic ticket punch
• Graphic 45 stamped metal brads
• Twine

All right, that's it from me today. I hope you've found at least a smidgen of inspiration to create a gorgeous autumn colors project for our challenge this time! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Flower Girl Note Card

Hi everyone! I'm happy to share a note card sample I created for Linda's traveling paper arts booth using the absolutely gorgeous Lost Coast Designs Flower Girl stamp. This is truly one of the most detailed stamps I've ever worked with. I couldn't decide whether to color the image or leave it uncolored, so I had to set it aside while I created another card. Some projects just require a fresh approach. ;)

After I decided to color it, I matted the image on gold mirror cardstock. I punched a pretty border along the bottom of the front flap of the card base and added a piece of ivory organdy ribbon just above the punched border. I adhered the matted image to the front and a strip of the gold mirror cardstock at the bottom of the inside of the back flap of the card base so it shows through.

Recipe:

• Hammermill white cardstock; Marco's Gold Mirror cardstock
• Lost Coast Designs Flower Girl stamp
• Memento Rich Cocoa ink
• Copics: R00/20/22, E00, Y21, BG000, YG17, B05, BV13
• Sakura Stardust pen
• Martha Stewart Footlights border punch
• GKD Ivory organdy ribbon

Be sure you pay a visit to the very awesome Lost Coast Designs online store! The variety is amazing as is the quality, and definitely worth the trip! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

The Right Accessories

Hi everyone! I have some great news... I've been asked to join the Crafty Cardmakers and More Design Team! Woot-woot! I'm super stoked to share my first DT inspiration project for CCM #123 - Ribbons/Lace and Pearls hosted by teammate Jackie! We're being sponsored by Woodware Craft Collection and Di's Digi Stamps! Come play with us! We want to see your project with ribbons or lace (or both) and pearls!

I perused my collection of Unity stamps and selected one of the most awesome Itty Bitty stamp sets for this card which would be a great encouragement or congrats card. I have a slight shoe fetish so this was perfect! I was in a pink girlie kind of mood so I created a pink card base, then dug into my stash of double-sided papers and chose some absolutely gorgeous pink floral papers. I mounted all the elements on dark chocolate cardstock which gave a great contrast to the soft pink tones.

I used some gorgeous WOC ivory crocheted lace along with some pretty pink wrinkled ribbon and pink flat-back pearls.

The inside sentiment is from the Unity April 2013 Sentiment Kit, also stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I thought it complimented the front sentiment very well.

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

• Scribble and Scrap: #27 - Anything Goes
• Pile It On: #37 - Flowers and/or Feathers
• That Craft Place: Sentimental
• Crafting From The Heart: #36 - Anything Goes
• Sister Act: #74 - Anything Goes
• My Craft Creations: Anything Goes
• Crafty Boots: Anything Goes
• Alphabet Challenge Blog: P for Pretty Petals
• Crafty Girls Challenge: #26 - Anything Goes
• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges: #73 - Vintage

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury Ivory, Bubblegum Pink and Dark Chocolate cardstock
• KaiserCraft Key To My Heart double-sided papers
• Unity Right Accessories Itty Bitty stamp set
• Sentiment from the Unity Blossom By Blossom April 2013 Sentiment Kit
• Memento Rich Cocoa ink
• Wild Orchid Crafts ivory crocheted lace
• Prairie Bird Boutique wrinkled ribbon
• Melissa Frances pink flat-back peals

Hope you've found a little inspiration to create a project with ribbons or lace (or both if you want) and some pearls! What a pretty combination! Thanks so much for stopping by today  we'll see you next time!

Hugs,

Leslie

Thinking Of You Note Card

Hello, my crafty friends! Can you believe it's the middle of September already?! Where the heck has this year gone?! I've popped in this morning to share my Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog DT inspiration project for LTSCB #38 - Anything Goes! We're being sponsored this time by the fabulous DRS Designs! Come play with us - we know you love Anything Goes! ;)

I chose the absolutely gorgeous Plant Shelf image along with the vertical Thinking Of You sentiment for my note card. I dug deep in my stash and pulled out some dark green corrugated cardstock that I've had for years and years, and paired it with some gold metallic cardstock. I just love how this turned out!

What a gorgeous image! And green just so happens to be my all-time favorite color, although I have many favorite colors and color combos when I'm scrapping. I added a sweet little ladybug charm for an element of good luck. And, of course, some of my new favorite Twinkle Goosebumps gemstones. ;)

Here's another angled view of the note card. I matted the blank inside panel on some dark green cardstock.

Proud to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Crafty Boots: Anything Goes
• My Craft Creations: Anything Goes
• That Craft Place: Sentimental
• Sister Act: #74 - Anything Goes
• Crafting From The Heart: #36 - Anything Goes
• Scribble and Scrap: #27 - Anything Goes
• Love to Create: #133 - Add Some Lines (I hope corrugated cardstock qualifies!)
• Crafty Girls Challenge: #26 - Anything Goes

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury White cardstock; Marco's dark green corrugated cardstock; dark green cardstock from stash; Marco's Venicelux Gold Metallic cardstock
• DRS Designs Plant Shelf image and Thinking Of You vertical sentiment
• Copics: C1/3, YG61/63/67, Y21, E11/33
• Queen & Co. green Twinkle Goosebumps gemstones
• EK Success lady bug charm from the Laliberi Bugs and Leaves collection

I hope you've found a little inspiration here to create something for our Anything Goes challenge this time! Be sure to check out the DRS Designs store - there are tons of fun things to drool over! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Tulip Collage Note Card

Hi everyone! I was able to spend a little time in the scrap room today and created an inspiration project for this month's Lost Coast Designs Clean and Simple challenge. If you have any Lost Coast Designs stamps, be sure to come play with us - you could be a proud winner of a $10 gift certificate to the Lost Coast Designs online store! How cool is that?!

This note card was awesome fun and turned out really pretty. And you wouldn't believe how easy... a couple stamps, two kinds of cardstock, four color wash inks and some black Memento ink. Seriously! Because this is a clean and simple project, there are no embellishments. I have to say, that was a little tough for me, but a girl does what a girl has to do in the name of a challenge. :)

I spritzed several color wash inks onto a piece of kraft cardstock and let it dry. I stamped the corner swirl several times in a random fashion and then stamped the tulip collage. I matted it on gold mirror cardstock and adhered it to a kraft card base.

Here is a close-up so you can see the yummy color wash inks.

And here's a close-up of the bottom half. Love these colors!

Recipe

• The Paper Cut Brown Bag cardstock; Marco's Gold Mirror cardstock
• Ranger Adirondack Color Wash inks: Cranberry, Stream, Purple Twilight and Denim
• Lost Coast Designs Tulip Collage stamp
• Lost Coast Designs Corner Swirl stamp
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink

I hope you've found a little inspiration to create a CAS project for our challenge this month! And be sure to check out all the awesome Lost Coast Designs stamps in the online store! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

XOXO

Howdy, crafty friends! I'm still hanging out over at Card Mania Challenges, this time for a sketch challenge, and you know how I absolutely love sketches! I'm happy to share my inspiration project for CMC #55 - Sketch. We being sponsored by Crafts and Me this time, so come play with us!

I chose the absolutely gorgeous Dancing Fae digi for my Hugs and Kisses card. What a fun image to go with this fun sketch! This card is for my granddaughter's 11th birthday in October and I know she's just going to love it!

And aren't these papers just yummy?! I thought the purple felt flowers complimented this paper beautifully. I've had them in my stash for quite a while but never seem to use them.

Here's a peak at the inside. I used some of the pretty purple paper along with a stamped circular sentiment.

And here's that awesome sketch! :)

Proud to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Sister Act Card Challenge: #73 - Always Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog: #193 - Anything Goes
• The Crafter's Cafe: #80 - Child's Birthday
• Creative Knockouts: #53 - Tic Tac Toe (Flowers, Sentiment, Die Cuts/Punches

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury White cardstock; Cricut Purple cardstock
• GKD Parisian Garden 6x6 papers
• Crafts and Me Dancing Fae digital image
• Copics: BV00/11/13/17, R00, Y21, E11/51
• Clear Wink of Stella
• GKD Vertical Greetings 2 stamp set (front sentiment)
• Lili of the Valley For You Circular Sentiments (inside sentiment)
• Memento Tuxedo Black
• Spellbinders Classic Circles dies
• Tonic Ticket Punch
• Violet Stampendous Dot Sparklers
• Michael's purple felt flowers
• Purple gemstones

I hope you've found a little inspiration to come play in our Sketch challenge this time! And be sure to check out all the fun goodies over at Crafts and Me! Thanks so much for stopping by this time - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Happy Anniversary

Hi everyone! Well, I've scored another guest designer gig, this time with Fantasy Stampers Challenge Blog for the month of September! How awesome is that?! I'm happy to share my inspiration project for the midway motivation post for the Hearts and Flowers challenge going on right now! Come play with us!

I've had this Deep Red stamp for ages and have never used it, so I thought it was the perfect time to get it out and create an anniversary card. I very rarely use an uncolored image but this vintage image is just gorgeous and led me right into the monochromatic thing.

I dry embossed the background using a new floral embossing folder and matted it on some gorgeous black glossy cardstock, exposing the debossed side which I thought looked kind of neat. I cut the lacy oval from the black glossy cardstock.

I added some white wrinkled ribbon and created a quad-loop bow. I attached a dangling silver puffed heart charm to the bow and affixed a white ribbon flower in the center.

I kept the inside fairly simple with just a stamped sentiment on a panel matted on the black glossy cardstock.

Proud to enter this anniversary card into the following challenges:

• Crafting From The Heart: #34 - Anything Goes
• Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog: #119 - Anything Goes
• Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: #114 - Any Sentiment Other Than Birthday
• Fab 'n' Funky: #227 - Tic Tac Toe (charm/die cut/pearls)
• Sister Act Card Challenge: #73 - Always Anything Goes
• Craft-Room Challenge: Something Old, Something New
• Melonheadz Friends: 2 Or More Dies
• Chocolate, Coffee and Cards: #73 - Vintage
• Simply Create Too: #69 - Show Us Something New
• Clear It Out: Anything Goes
• Crafts and Me: September Challenge #150 - Time For Anything

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury White cardstock; Marco's Cast Kote Black cardstock
• Romantic Stroll stamp by Deep Red (something old)
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Darice Ranunculus embossing folder (something new)
• Spellbinders Classic Ovals and Lacey Ovals dies
• Sentiment stamp by Leaving Memories
• Prairie Bird Boutique white wrinkled ribbon
• White ribbon flower from stash
• Silver puffed heart charm and fine curb chain from stash

I hope you've found a little inspiration to create a project with some hearts and flowers and join in our challenge this time! Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Hippie Birthday

Hi everyone! I'm making my second appearance over at Scrapping4fun Challenges as a guest designer, and am happy to share my inspiration project for Challenge #25 - Inspiration. Come play with us! Create whatever kind of project you want using this picture as your inspiration:

Isn't this just the greatest photo?! I love it! I'm an old hippie, child of the 60s (born in the late 50s), so naturally I saw hippie... flower child... 1960s... peace... flowers... chevrons/stripes... and colors.

I used an awesome hippie van stamp that I've had for several years for my focal image and created a "tie-dyed" background with blown alcohol inks. This is a new technique for me and it was definitely fun! ;)

I stamped the Hippie Birthday greeting on a scrap of turquoise textured cardstock, cut it with a rectangle die and angled it on the background. I added some yellow flower brads that have been in my stash forever and a shiny new peace charm with a pretty little bow.

I recently bought several snarky sentiment stamps and have been chomping at the bit to use them! I just couldn't resist this one because it fit so well with the old hippie theme! This card is for my sister's birthday in November and I know she's going to love it! ;)

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

• Clear It Out Challenge Blog: Anything Goes
• Craft-Room Challenge: Something Old, Something New (old hippie van stamp and flower brads, new peace charm and blown ink technique)
• Crafting For All Seasons Challenge Blog: #85 - Wheels and/or Cogs
• Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog: #193 - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday: #337 - Rainbows
• Simply Create Too: #69 - Show Us Something New (new peace charm and blown ink technique)
• Sister Act Card Challenge: #73 - Always Anything Goes
• Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge: #51 - Anything Goes
• Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog: #119 - Anything Goes
• Crafting From The Heart: #34 - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley Challenges: #89 - Flowers
• Melonheadz Friends: 2 or More Dies
• Use Your Stuff: #151 - Brads

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury White and Charcoal Brown cardstock; Marco's Metallic Pearl cardstock
• K & Co. KP Eclectic double-sided paper
• Stampavie Flower Power Camper Van stamp
• Copics: R81/85/89, B05/91/93, C1/7, YG13/67, V17, Y02, YR04
• Ranger Adirondack inks: Purple Twilight, Cranberry, Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow and Lettuce
• Color spritzer
• Spellbinders Classic Rectangle and Deckled Rectangle dies
• GKD So Groovy stamp set (front sentiment)
• River City Rubber Works (inside sentiment)
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Queen & Co. Purple Twinkle Goosebumps gemstones
• Yellow flower brads (old, from stash)

I really hope you'll join us this time for our Inspiration challenge! Thanks so much for stopping by and we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Bee Yourself Inspirational Mini Book

Hi everyone! I'm here this morning to share my Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog DT inspiration project for LTSCB #37 - Let's Fly Away! We're being sponsored this time by the awesome Bugaboo Digi Stamps and The Stamping Chef! This is gonna be a fun one - we want to see your projects featuring something that flies - insects, planes, birds, fairies, whatever inspires you to take flight! So come play with us!

I chose the super cute Stacey Spec-Tacular digi from The Stamping Chef for my project because she looks kinda like me with my glasses on back in my younger days. I created an inspirational mini book entitled "Bee Yourself" to put on my desk at work. The bee, floral scalloped circle and blue label are stacked elements I created with pre-colored images printed on Shrinky Dink plastic. Love that stuff! ;)

The mini book is 3" square and created from one sheet of 12x12 lightweight cardstock. The spine and mats for all the pages were cut from gold metallic cardstock. Each page contains an inspirational message and embellishments. Here we have "Make Today Amazing" and "Shine On"...

"Be Positive" and "Dream Big"...

"Be True" and "Believe in You"...

"Be Joyful" and "Dream"...

And a die cut bee on the back cover.

Proud to enter my mini book into the following challenges:

• Tuesday Throwdown: #210 - Anything Goes
• Sisterhood of Crafters: Fancy Fold (mini book created from one sheet of 12x12 cardstock)
• Crafty Creations Challenges: #270 - Dig Deep, use something old from your stash (7 year old cardstock)
• Hobbybook Designer Challenge: 2 or More Designer Paper
• Little Red Wagon: #252 - Girl Power
• The Shabby Team Room: #234 - Reading
• Paper Makeup Stamps: Digi Makeover #156 - Anything Goes
• Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog: #227 - Use A Digi
• Scribble and Scrap: #26 - Always Anything Goes
• Crafting From The Heart: #34 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Challenges: #25 - Anything Goes

Recipe:

• Tan textured cardstock (old, from stash); Marco's Antique Linen ivory cardstock; Venicelux Gold Metallic cardstock; GKD Chocolate Brown cardstock
• Stacey Spec-Tacular digital image from The Stamping Chef
• Copics: E000/33/37, R81/85, BG15
• Clear Wink of Stella
• Darcie's Vintage Trinket Clip Art
• Small Impression Obsession Bow die
• Bee from the Spellbinders Fanciful Flight die set
• Blue Stampendous Dot Sparklers
• Gemstones and flat-back pearls

I hope you've found a little inspiration here to create a project featuring something that flies for our challenge this time! Be sure to check all the fun stuff in the Bugaboo Digi Stamps and The Stamping Chef online stores! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie