Saturday, January 30, 2010

Stampin' 411 Sketch...Clean and Simple

I wanted to make a Clean and Simple Card and was playing with the new "Whimsical Words" set from the Sale-A-Bration" and the lovely, "Thoughts and Prayers" Set. I coloured the flowers in both Pretty in Pink and Rose Red with my Markers and the vine was coloured with my Old Olive Marker. The Designer Paper is from the new Sweet Pea Paper Pack in the Mini Catalogue. One again I used my Lots of Tags Die and the Big Shot, along with my Wide Oval Punch for the sentiment. Thanks for stopping by! Make sure you check out the Stampin' 411 Sketch this week, it is perfect for a Clean and Simple (CAS) Card!

Smiles,
Lesley ;)

Stampin' Royalty and Colour Q

I am playing with my Bella Blooms set again today!!! Oh how I love that pretty flower...why didn't I get that set long ago!!! I used the current Stampin' Royalty Sketch and Arielle's Colour Q Challenge to use Bashful Blue, Taken with Teal, Real Red and Black. I did use Bashful Blue, it is the soft sponging around the flower.I used my Stampin' Write Markers to colour directly onto the stamp to achieve both the Real Red Flowers and the Taken with Teal Stem. The DSP is an old Real Red hostess pack of paper I had stashed. The ribbon in Real Red is tied in a knot, for a different look. The flower is punched out with the Wide Oval Punch and that oval is on one of the dies from the Lots of Tags Die.I used the Kind and Caring Thoughts Set for the sentiment on the inside and the outside. Love that set too! I hope you like my card! Please leave me a comment so I may come and visit your blog too!

Smiles,
Lesley ;)

Friday, January 29, 2010

Stampin' 411 Sketch Challenge

I did the Masking Technique on this card. The sets I used were both FREE from the Sale-A-Bration mini...the houses, trees and clouds are from the set called "Good Neighbours" and the sentiment is from the set called "Bella's Blooms".
All week I have been waiting for my order to come because I wanted to make this card for the Stampin' 411 Sketch. In this picture below you can see the Masking Technique I used to make the houses stand infront of the trees. The images are stamped right on top of eachother.I also used the new Scallop Trim Border Punch (also FREE in the Sale-A-Bration) to create a little blue fence at the bottom of the main image panel...it looks like a pretty upscale neighbourhood...don't you think? LOL!
I was so excited that the Bella Bloom set was in the free picks from the Sale-A-Bration mini. I love this sweet little stamp set and have wanted to buy it forever!!! I can't wait to use this sentiment on little Christmas gifts and cards...The designer paper is called "Pawsitively Prints" and is supposed to coordinate with the Beary Best Friends set...I also used the Pumpkin Pie 1 1/4" grosgrain ribbon on this card. I love how this ribbon ties so nicely into a bow. I am also in love with the colours Pumpkin Pie and Ballet Blue. Wow! I never knew how pretty Ballet Blue was until I ordered this Designer Paper.
Well that is it for tonight. Have a big day tomorrow. Thank you for stopping by!!
Smiles,
Lesley ;)

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Colour Throwdown #77

I made this card for the current Colour Throwdown which was to use Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery and Baja Breeze. I was short of Baja Breeze so I subbed in some Soft Sky. I made another Easel Card. I really love the look of them and I went with a Wedding Theme. I used the Daisies #2 Die and the Top Note Die. It is difficult to see the 4 layers of Daisies I used...the cardstock is so dark. But in person, it has a cool effect...lots of layers and umph!The sentiment is from the Sale-A-Bration set called "Whimsical Words" and the inside sentiment is from the Hostess Level 3 set called "Kind and Caring Thoughts".

Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley :)

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

(CAS) Mercy's Sketch #58 and SPCC#32

I made this CAS (Clean and Simple) card for the SPCC Colour Challenge #32 to use Basic Gray, Close to Cocoa and Creamy Caramel. I also used Mercy's Sketch #58 from the Lord Have Mercy Blog.
The butterfly has been highlighted with Crystal Effects to make it shiny. I think this would be a nice masculine Get Well card. Once again I was surprised about how much I liked this colour combo!

Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley :)

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Mojo#123 and Curtain Call Colour Challenge Act 14

Wow! I love challenges! I looked at Stacey's Curtain Call Colour Challenge and thought, what will I do with those colours? I used my Stampin' Write Markers in Orchid Opulence and Almost Amethyst and coloured right onto the flower stamp from the Thoughts and Prayers Set. Now I really like this colour combo and would have never attempted it myself!I used the sentiment from the Thoughts and Prayers set as well and inked it up in Orchid Opulence. The flowers that are popped up are from my Boho Blossoms Punch and I used the end of a pencil eraser to make them rounded and look like they are blooming. I also used the new Border Punch that I received for FREE from the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue. The sketch is the current Mojo Challenge to make a square or circle card. My card measures 41/4" Square. I also embossed the side panel with my Perfect Details texture plate. The ribbon is 1/4" white grosgrain. I used some little sticky gems in the centre of my flowers. I stamped the inside with the same flower and a pretty sentiment from the same set.

Thank you for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!
Lesley ;)

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Stampin' Royalty and SPCC #31

I made this card for the SPCC Colour Challenge to use Apricot Appeal, Real Red and Pretty in Pink. This card is also for the Stampin' Royalty Challenge to make a One Layer Card. Both of these challenges stumped me at first, so I thought why not combine them?

I tried another new technique that I have been putting off for a while. The Chalkboard Technique. I used my Stampin' Pastels (chalks) to colour in the flowers. The flowers are from "For All You Do" and "God's Beauty". Basically you stamp a solid image in Whisper White Craft Ink and then colour over top of it with the Chalks. The chalks cling to the craft ink and it dries instantly, it is a simple technique and lots of fun. I tried it on black paper and the effect was really pretty. The sentiment was also stamped in Craft ink and embossed with White Embossing Powder and a heat gun. I use white satin ribbon at the top of the card to hightlight the other white on the card.
This card was so simple to make, the planning took the most time!
I hope you like it. It is my first Chalkboard Technique Card but not my last!! I think I am hooked!
Smiles,
Lesley ;)

Meet Skye

My best friend Jake is a brand new Auntie! Her sister had a little girl last week and her name is Skye Bailey. I made a card for the new parents and will be sending it off today! Here is Jake holding her little niece. Awww!! So cute!
Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley :)

Friday, January 22, 2010

Got Sketch? Challenge #96

I found a new Blog called "Got Sketch?" that I am trying. It has some really lovely sketches for scrapbooking! My goal is to do more scrapbooking this year. The sketch they gave us to work with is really pretty. I am currently working on a 8 1/2"x11" book and so I had to adapt the sketch a bit to accomodate my page size.
My page has a picture of my friend Pam and me, sitting on a bench in Invermere, BC...12 YEARS ago! I love this picture of us and have wanted to scrap it for a long time. I can't believe how long ago that was! I used my Big Shot (113439) and the "Go Go Boots" Alphabet (113450). I also used my Daisy Flower Die (113442) and my Little Leaves Die (114511) for the flower at the bottom of the card. I also used the Texture Plate to add some embossing to the bottom right hand side of the page. The DSP is called "To the Nine's"(114038). I used the retired Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon that is now in the Clearance Bin on my SU! website...such a great deal for such beautiful ribbon!
Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley :)

MTSC57-New SU! Items

My shipment of new SU! stuff came in today and after I put everything all together, stamps, took wrapping off packages, and so on...I NEEDED to stamp. LOL! The Sale-A-Bration Set called "Happy Moments" was calling my name...actually as soon as I saw this set, I knew I wanted it. I love the pretty flowers and really the entire set is so sweet! I also love the "Whimsical Words" set and inked it up today too!My sketch came from Mercy Kerin's Sketch Challenge. I inked up those sweet little flowers from the "Happy Moments" set and coloured them with my ink pads and Blender Pens. I love the look of this kind of colouring and am still learning how to make it look watercoloured. I used Regal Rose, Old Olive and Going Gray (to outline the images).The sentiment is from "Whimsical Words" and I punched it out with the Wide Oval Punch (112082) and nested it in the Lots of Tags die (114508) which I used on my Big Shot. The DSP is from the newest paper pad (117161) in the Occasions Mini and the ribbon is Pretty in Pink in 1/4" grosgrain (109032). Have you seen the Sweet Pea Paper Pack (117161) in the mini? Wow! It is stunning and I am so excited to do some scrapbooking with it. There are 48 Sheets of paper in this pack! There are 24 designs in this pack! I embossed the white base of the card with the Perfect Details Texture Plate (115962) and my Big Shot. I almost forgot! I used the new Scallop Trim Edging Punch on this card! You can get this Punch for FREE with a $65 SU! purchase. It is in the Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalogue! It was easy to use!

Thank you for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley ;)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Colour Throwdown and Diva Coffee Break Designs (Sketch)

This card was made for the current Colour Throwdown #76 Colour Challenge and the current Diva Coffee Break Designs Sketch Challenge #161. I am working towards getting some Melon Mambo but it is not in my stash yet! So I had to improvise and use an old In Colour Favourite from way back...Puerly Pomegranate. I loved this colour and it was great to be able to use it again. It is such a juicy ink pad!I had one piece of So Saffron left in my stash! Oh horror! (Luckily UPS is delivering today!). The sketch asked for a rectangular shape on the side of the card but I went with Ovals. I hope that is ok!! The flower is from the set called Eastern Blooms (111626) which I have not used forvever! I love the way the flowers stamp in this set, so pretty! The leaves are from a retired Hostess Set called "God's Beauty". The ribbon is SO Saffron 5/8" Grosgrain which I received from the Sale-A-Bration sale last year. I love it and need to use it more! The sentiment is from the set called "For All You Do"(115360). It was a challenge getting a bright enough picture, the sunlight is brightly streaming into my kitchen and the flash doesn't go on when that happens. I will try to take a better photo tonight.

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!
Lesley ;)

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Mojo Sketch and DIVA's (DCBD) Colour Challenge

I hope I made it in time! This card is for the Diva Coffee Break Designs to use Black, Basic Gray, Going Gray and Whisper White. I wanted to make a clean and crisp card and so I took out the Big Shot and played with some of the new dies I just received. I am loving the Daisy Flower die (113442), in fact, I ordered the Daisies #2 die (114520) and it will be here this Thursday, can't wait! I love these colours together. This is such a fun challenge!This card also uses the newest Mojo Sketch. The Design Team sample cards were amazing and so inspirational. I used the Big Shot and the Texture Plates Perfect Details (115962) for the white background.The sentiment is from All Holidays (114916). I love this saying and think it is such a nice thing to put on a card to a friend. Thank you for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!
Lesley ;)

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Colour Create and ANOTHER Easel Card

Okay...this is the last easel card for a while but I just love the simple design and how it forces me to finish the inside of a card. I think this is one of my favourite layouts for a card!! Obviously! LOL! I used the same Stampin' 411 Sketch, I think it is a great one this week and played with my new Bella Bleu Paper. The Colour Create Challenge was to use Blue, Kraft and White.The stamp is from the Hostess Level 3 Set called "Kind and Caring Thoughts" and I love it. I stamped the image in Not Quite Navy and then stamped it off twice. I used my SU! Marker in Not Quite Navy to ink up the "Thanks" from the "Thanks So Much" stamp in the set. That way it could fit into my oval punches.

Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley :)

Stampin' Royalty and Mojo Sketch

This card was made for the current Mojo Sketch Challenge. I haven't played the Mojo Challenge for a while. I always miss the beginning of the challenge and by Tuesday there are already 400 people who have entered! LOL! So I feel like I have missed the boat somehow? Anyway, I decided to enter today, even though there are over 400 people! I combined the Mojo Sketch with the current Stampin' Royalty Colour Challenge.When I saw the Colour Challenge on the new Stampin' Royalty blog I was stumped. Where was the Old Olive? Where was the green hue of anything? Then I started to play with the colours and I realized how pretty the Razzleberry looks with the Plum! I had no idea! Thanks to the gals at Stampin' Royalty for turning me onto something new!!You can't see it in the first picture but I used the Always Standard Wheel on the Elegant Eggplant strip on the front of the card too! I also sponged the flower on the front of the card in Razzleberry for more depth. I wanted to complete the inside of the card too.
Can you see the Texture Plate I used called "Perfect Details", I love the sweet little swirls. The sentiment is from "Well Scripted", I am in love with this set! The flower is my little Daisy Sizzlit put through my Big Shot and the I added some Boho Blossoms from the Boho Blossoms Punch. The double ribbon was a new thing for me...I thought it was kinda daring! LOL!
Thank you for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley :)

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Stampin' 411 and Colour Q

My best friend's sister just had a baby! I am so excited for her and her husband. I had already made them a baby card for their baby shower so I wanted to make a special congratulations card for them. Last night I made THIS CARD. It is called an Easel Card and I thought that I would challenge myself again to make the card in the standard A2 size. It was easy! Then I decided to incorporate two blog challenges with this card. The Stampin' 411 Sketch and the Colour Q Challenge. Colour Q asked for Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana and Basic Gray with Whisper White. Such pretty colours and perfect for a baby card. I inked up my new set called "Well Scripted" in the Basic Gray. That Basic Gray ink is a nice alternative to Basic Black. It is softer for the baby card. I used SU!'s "Curvy Verse" set for the inside of the card...it stamped nicely in the Basic Gray too!
I used SU!'s "Perfect Details" Texture Plate for the White side of my card front. I love the pretty swirls and I thought they kind matched the theme of the Designer Paper. The Stampin' 411 Sketch was perfect for showing off the pretty Celery Patterned Paper I have from last year's Sale-A-Bration. Plus I had the ribbon too!
The flowers are a created with my Big Shot. I used the Sizzlits Daisy Flower Die and the Little Leaves Die. Then I pulled out my Boho Blossoms Punch to make the flower centres. Then with my Paper Piercer and Mat Pack, I created a little hole in each blossom and added a gold brad. I tried to "fluff" the flowers so they had more dimension.
That is it for now. I need to get some "real" work done, like laundry and paper work. I am hoping to do a big purge in my craft room today and to make it more efficient. My Big Shot is calling my name and I am hoping to do a scrapbooking page today. I want to get more scrapbooking done this year!
Have a terrific day!
Happy Stamping!
Lesley :)

Friday, January 15, 2010

Colour Throwdown #75

Yeah! I got to play the Colour Throwdown this week. I was so excited when I saw the pretty colours and knew I had to ink up my newest stamp sets. This set is so pretty and the flowers kind of reminded me of that retired set called "Peaceful Wishes". The flowers on my card are from the set called "Thoughts and Prayers". Here is a picture of the "inside" of the card with the same floral image. I also used the Eyelet Border Punch for some added detail and prettiness.I used my Rich Razzleberry Ink pad and pressed it directly onto some of the flowers. Then I took my Stampin' Write Markers (love them!) and finished off the flowers with Orchid Opulence. I had to be smart about this so that I kept true to the challenge colours. Then I inked up the vines on the flower stamp with my Mellow Moss marker and my Garden Green marker. I love that these markers can be used directly onto the stamp.Then I huffed and puffed on my flower stamp and pressed onto the Whisper White Paper. I wanted the flower to droop down to the sentiment. The sentiment is from a new Clear set called "Well Scripted". This is such a pretty word set...it stamps well. The sentiment also fits beautifully into the oval punches!!! I was so excited about that!I wanted to challenge mysef to make something different from the regular card and so I did an easel card. I found it quite simple to make and wanted to keep the card CAS. Here is a picture of the side of the card. The card folds flat and fits in a regular envelope.

Here is the finished card! I did it!! I made my first easel card!
Have a great day! Hope you all get to stamp. Thank you for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

Lesley :)

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Club Night #1-Valentine's Theme

My first Club night was on Wednesday and I wanted to make my gals some sweet treats to thank them for joining my club! My theme for the night was Valentine's Day! The first thing I made was a new wrapper for some yummy chocolate bars. I used the new Sending Love Patterned Paper from the new mini and added a little card made from the 2 tags die. I set up each space and added the little treat.
Then we made Sour Cream containers out of the new Designer Paper and a Film Strip card using the new stamp set "Fox and Friends" and more of the Sending Love paper. It was a fun night! I was so busy, I forgot to get pictures of the gals! Must do so next time!Happy stamping! Thank you for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley ;)

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Playing with New Products...

My shipment of new items came in and I inked up some new sets. I played with the Fox and Friends set. As soon as I saw the new mini catalogue, this was the stamp set I wanted the most! I love the sweetness of each animal and the way I could fit each animal onto my different punches. This card below, I used the To the Nines designer paper, the Always wheel, my circle punches and the leaf die in my Big Shot. Love the Happy Birthday from the new set called Well Scripted. I thought this would be a cute masculine birthday card!I also needed to make a Birthday card for my mommy...her birthday is on February 1st. I just LOVE this new Well Scripted set! I used the birthday stamp from this set on the inside. The colours I used are So Saffron and Certainly Celery.
I love how these Clear Mount stamp sets are labeled on the sides for simple viewing in the bookcase! Also love the pictures of the stamps on the side! So clever! They were simple to put together and they are less expensive! Thanks for stopping by! I hope to have some more samples posted by tomorrow!Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley :)