Inspiration in Action Sketch Challenge #112

My sister is turning 30 tomorrow and I wanted to create a special card for her. I love the More Mustard colour and decided to make the entire card in that colour. The DSP is an old Hostess paper pack and the ribbon I found at a SU! garage sale. All I needed was the ink, which I just received!

I made the card for Gretchen Barron's sketch challenge. Here is the sketch she gave us!! Instead of flowers to the side, I added brads.

Here is the card I created. It is hard to see, but I added glitter to the larger flowers. I LOVE this Hostess Stamp set!!! It is one of the best Hostess Sets I have ever earned and I am so happy with it!!! I am waiting for some Perfect Plum DSP and I already have the ink and matching ribbon!!! I am going to try this stamp set with those colours too.

Thank you for stopping by!!

Smiles,

Lesley :)

Supplies:

Paper: More Mustard DSP and Cardstock, Whisper White

Inks: More Mustard, Old Olive (marker)

Accessories: More Mustard 1/4" ribbon, paper piercer and mat pack, gold brads

Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge #128 (Thinking of You)

Here is my second challenge card of the day. I am playing with a new stamp set called Kind and Caring Thoughts which is a level 3 hostess set in the main SU! catalogue. I love the colours Really Rust, More Mustard and Old Olive together. I actually saw a card using these stamps and colours that I LOVED!!! I can't remember where I saw it but she inspired me to make this card! She actually used the new in colours-Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango.So here is my card for the Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge #128. I dry embossed the white back panel and used some 5/8" Old Olive grosgrain ribbon. Here is the inside of my card. I wanted to finish it with the same flowers and the feel better sentiment. I love this stamp set!!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Stamping!

Lesley :)

JUGS #10 (Sketch Challenge)

As soon as I saw this sketch today for the Just Us Girls Challenge Blog, I knew I wanted to play and try out some of my new SU! Sets. I pulled out some Mellow Moss, Whisper White and a piece of DSP I had stashed away that had a So Saffron tone to it. The sketch was really inspiring and I decided to flip it.

Here is the sketch:

Here is the card I created: I inked up my "For All You Do" Set and my "Kind and Caring Thoughts" set. The branch is a SU! sizzlits die that I used with my Big Shot. I added some gold brads to the centre of the flowers and three to the side of the card as the sketch indicated. I am back into using brads lately, I am loving it. I cut out each flower and popped them up on the card face for dimension.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Smiles,

Lesley :)

Christmas Card Class

Last night I had another Christmas Card class. I played with my new Serene Snowflakes set and the Big Shot. I LOVE my big shot!!!

Here are the cards we made:

For my first card I inked up the biggest snowflake in the Serene Snowflakes Set. I used some Not Quite Navy DSP I had stashed away and the new Petals a Plenty embossing folder with my Big Shot.

This next card was also using the Serene Snowflakes Set and the All Holiday Set. I used Regal Rose Ink and Pretty in Pink cardstock.I pulled out the embossing gun for this next card, why don't I emboss more? I love the way the Dasher Stamp embosses, it looks better embossed than in regular ink. I used my Big Shot to dry emboss the background and to make the rectangular scallop shape. The Merry Christmas sentiment is from All Holidays and is punched out with my oval punches.This next card involved the retired but well loved Peaceful Wishes Set. I inked up the branch in Always Artichoke and stamped the sentiment "Dear Kind & Wonderful Friend" in Razzleberry. That sentiment is also from the All Holidays Set. We used the corner ticket punch and some brads to highlight the corners.

The snowman card I had made for a couple of challenges last week. I changed the colours and popped up the sentiment on the oval punches. The colours I used were Bashful Blue, Real Red and Brocade Blue.Thanks for stopping by! I am hoping to catch up on a few challenge blogs today, I have been missing stamping just for me!! I am also eager to play with some new stuff I got this week.

Happy Stamping!

Smiles, Lesley :)

Playing with the Big Shot and PPA18 (Kiss Creations)

I was feeling a little crafty yesterday and my Big Shot arrived, so I decided to scrapbook. I wanted to do something clean and simple for the PPA18 KISS Challenge, here is what I came up with!! I used the Snowflakes #2 dies and the large Snowflake die. I also used the Go-Go Boots Alphabet, such cute little letters perfect for an 81/2"x11" scrapbook. I tore some Whipser White paper to make the snow at the bottom of the Navy Paper and added glitter to it. Then I arranged the letters to make the scrapbook title and snowflakes all around. I love how I can cut out 4 snowflakes at one time with my Big Shot.Then I designed this card for my Christmas Card Class on Friday!!! Also using the PPA KISS idea, I wanted to try a different fold to see if it would work. Love how it showcases the Old Olive Ribbon. I used the Patterned Pines and the All Holidays Set for this card.

Off to bed...must go to work in the morning.
Happy Stamping!
Lesley :)

Stampin' Up Holiday Extravaganza

Stampin' Up! is offering an online extravaganza sale, where you can get items up to 50% off. There is an Ultimate Stampers Starter Kit that gives you 3 stamp sets, brads, card stock, ribbon and inks valued at $170.95 for only $102.57 on preferred pricing. Here's a picture of all the great things you get: This next bundle is called "Thank You Kindly" Bundle. It would be regularly priced for $41.90 and is being offered for $20.95.This next bundle is called "Heart to Heart" Bundle. Regular price is $69.85 on sale for $34.93.This is called "The Four Square" Bundle regularly priced as $42.90 on sale for $21.45.Please check HERE for other great bundle deals. I will be placing orders on Wednesday afternoon, please email me at leo1975@shaw.ca to place an order or visit my online store at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/lesleycroghan/ and click "Shop Now".

Smiles,
Lesley :)

Huge Sale at Stampin' Up!

There are some amazing deals this week at Stampin' up that will end on November 30th. Please visit my Stampin' Up Website HERE to see the deals and email me at leo1975@shaw.ca to place an order.

Happy Stamping!

Lesley :)

Pals Paper Sketch Challenge...again...

This card was made for the Pals Paper Sketch Challenge. I already made a card for this challenge found here, but I was so inspired by this sketch, I had to make one more card! I wanted the next one to be more elegant! The brads I used are gold but they don't show up in the picture. love this little Snowflake stamp from the Patterned Pines Set. I also inked up Peace Love Joy from the All Holidays Set. I LOVE this set and do not understand why I hadn't purchased it earlier! Oh well...better late than never!!!To continue the theme of Snowflakes and to share, I inked up my new Serene Snowflakes Set and did so on non-traditional paper colours. I chose Sage Shadow, Basic Grey and White. The corners of the front panel are punched with my SU! Ticket Punch. I need to use this punch more, I forgot how much I love it! I embossed the sentiment from All Holidays again and embossed one snowflake from the set. The other snowflakes are stamped in Going Grey and Always Artichoke ink. I love how Artichoke and Sage go together!! I am off to write report cards. I have half of mine finished and hope to get a big chunk of them done today.

Happy Stamping!
Lesley :)

Just Us Girls Colour Challenge and Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge

This card was made for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge #17. As soon as I saw this sketch, I thought of these little Snowmen from the Snow Buddies hostess set. This is also for the Just Us Girls #8 Colour Challenge which was to use Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust and Bashful Blue.I made this card with the other hostess set from the Holiday Mini Catalogue. I used Rich Razzleberry, Mellow Moss and Very Vanilla. Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping,
Lesley :)

Colour Throwdown #69 and Christmas Wishes Card Class

These are the cards I designed for my Christmas Wishes Card Class #1. There will be another Christmas Card class on Friday, December 4th from 6-9pm. All information about this class is on my Stampin' Up Wesbite found here.This first card I designed for the Colour Throwdown #69 which was to use Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla and Old Olive which are all Stampin' Up colours. I embossed the Peace, Love, Joy sentiment from All Holidays with versamark, white embossing powder and my heat gun, all from SU! The main image is from the stamp set called Music Expressions and it is coloured with inks and a blender pen. This next card is made from 2 retired Stampin' Up sets that I love! Holiday Woodcuts and Peaceful Wishes. I used the Scallop Border Punch to highlight the poinsettias.This card was made with the Retired Peaceful Wishes set and the hostess set called Best Yet. The paper is Mellow Moss and Rich Razzleberry. I inked the stamp with my SU! markers and huffed it. Then I stamped off the image to give it a vintage feel. The green background is the Petals A Plenty embossing folder from SU! I used with the Big Shot. I tried a new technique which was Faux Stitching using the Mat Pack and the paper piercer. I love how this card turned out.This 4x4 square card uses the Penguin from the retired set Wild About You. The colours are Sahara Sand, Black and White. I also used a retired background set I had to create the background on the white panel and the ink is River Rock. The Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" and 1 1/3" circle punches were also used to highlight the penguin. He is stamped in Basic Black.My final card is made with the Dasher Stamp and En Francais Background stamp. The Joy sentiment is from the Delightful Decorations stamp set and is punched out with the 1 1/4" circle punch.

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy stamping!

Lesley :)

To learn more about my upcoming Card Classes,

please visit my website.

Scallop Circle Punch and Nesting Circle Punches

I am teaching a Christmas Card class this Friday. These are two of the 5 designs we will be using for the class. I just need to cut all the paper and get it set up! For the first card, I used one of the ornament stamps from Delightful Decorations Set. Then I used my 1 1/4' Circle Punch to punch it out. I used the 1 3/8" Circle Punch to mat the cut out piece in white and the Scallop Punch in black to set it off. The Scallop Circle Punch has little holes punched out of each scallop. The main image used on this card is the Dasher Stamp. Dasher is stamped in Basic Black Classic Ink and the background of the card is En Francais in Basic Grey; for a softer look.

This next card I used my retired SU! Snow Burst Stamp set. I inked it up in Night of Navy and punched it out with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch. Then I matted it with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch in Bashful Blue and then punched a Scallop Circle out of Night of Navy with the Scallop Punch. The small swirl in the top right hand corner is from the Baroque Motifs Stamp Set. The sentiment is from the retired SU! set called Peaceful Wishes. The blue designer paper is from last year's SU! Sale-A-Bration. There is other Bashful Blue designer paper available in the catalogue and through online ordering.
Supplies Used:
Stamps: Dasher, Delightful Decorations, Paceful Wishes, Snow Burst, En Francais, Baroque Motifs
Paper: Card #1-Real Red, Basic Black and White
Card #2-Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, White
Ink: Real Red, Night of Navy, Basic Grey and Basic Black
Tools: Circle Punches and Scallop Punch, 1/4" white grosgrain ribbon

Please visit my online store located on my Stampin' Up Website to purchase these items.

Thank you for stopping by...happy stamping!
Lesley :)

Christmas Cards and Open House

I made these Christmas Cards for a couple of challenges and for my upcoming Open House, tomorrow, Sunday November 15th from 2-4pm. Please email me for more details.This is a card will be making at the Open House. I also made it for the Charisma Cardz challenge "Merry and Bright" and for the Paper Pal's Challenge which was also a Christmas Theme.

This card I made is for the OCC Sketch Challenge. It was an awesome sketch and I had fun working with it. I love this new Delightful Decorations set and matching Ornament Punch! It is pretty easy to make lots of Christmas Cards quickly.

What Stampin' Up Products I used to make these cards:

Stamps: Delightful Decorations, Christmas Greetings, Elegant Cheer (retired), Baroque Motifs

Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Mellow Moss, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Same as above

Accessories: Ornament Punch, 1/4" White Grosgrain Ribbon

Thank you for stopping by!!

Smiles,

Lesley :)

CAS#40

This card was made for the Splitcoast Stamper's Clean and Simple Challenge #40 which was to use one colour and white. I had to stamp off each image with Always Artihoke Ink because I couldn't find my Mellow Moss...so I tried to match it as best as I could!! I hope that is ok!

Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley ;)

Recipe is made with all Stampin' Up Products
Stamps: Delightful Decorations, Baroque Motifs, En Francais
Ink: Always Artichoke
Paper: White/Mellow Moss
Accessories: Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Ornament Punch

Colour Throwdown #68

These two cards were made for the Colour Throwdown #68 and they are my very first card post as a new Stampin' Up Demonstrator. I am really excited about becoming a Demo and have wanted to for awhile. Today I went for ir!

The colours to use for the CTD challenge are Crushed Curry, Real Red, Only Orange and a dark neutral. I chose to use my favourite dark neutral which is Basic Gray! I wanted to create really clean and simple cards so that the colours and the images shone through. I was also excited to ink up my new Fifth Avenue Florals set from SU! I LOVE this set!
Thanks for stopping by! Happy stamping!

Smiles,

Lesley :)

Recipe is made with all Stampin' Up Products

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Florals, Garden Greetings (on Dormant list)

Ink: Real Red, So Saffron (in lieu of Crushed Curry), Only Orange and Basic Gray

Paper: Real Red and Basic Gray SU! Cardstock

Accessories: Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Border Punch,

New Face of Blog

Hi stamping friends...

After considerable thought, I have decided to become a SU! Demonstrator! I am very excited about this and am looking forward to sharing my passion for card making and scrapbooking with my friends. So I decided to give my blog a facelift and save all my old posts to draft. That way I can start fresh with a clean slate.

So please excuse the dust and the disorder...I will be up and running again soon...

Thanks!
Happy stamping!
Smiles,
Lesley :)

Colour Challenge#227 (SCS)

This card was made for the Splitcoast Stampers Colour Challenge #227. (Lavender Lace, Barely Banana, Going Gray, Black and White).

I used SU! To Have and To Hold Set (which is now retired) and finally used the mini flower vines stamp that came with that set...I really like it! Coloured those little flowers with Lavender and the hair on the bride and groom is Barely Banana. The background paper is black, white and a light gray. I used my Going Gray ink pad and a blender pen to outline the main image. The sentiment I found at a stamping garage sale and it fit perfectly in my circle punches. Once again I used the Top Note die and now I know I need to order it! I love it! To add some bling, I put a couple of pearls on the corners.

I also made a little white envelope to match, using the little flower motif.

Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley :)

Colour Throwdown #49 (Chocolate, Guava and Soft Sky)

When I saw the colours for this week's Colour Throwdown, I knew I wanted the card to be clean and simple. I used my Fresh Cuts Set from SU! Have not used that one in a while!! I stamped the centre panel in Chocolate and then inked the little flower in Guava. I cut out the little flower and popped them up on dimensionals. The sentiment is from Garden Greetings. I used the soft sky in the back panel.

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

Lesley :)

2 Sketches for You 2 Try (Ultimate Showdown)

This card was made for the 2 Sketches 4 You Challenge...there are such inspiring cards posted there by other hopefuls, it was not hard to catch the inspiration bug!
I am really into bright orange right now!! I paired it up with Always Artichoke by SU! and white cardstock. The white background is cuttlebugged with French Script and the sentiment is from SU! Elegant Cheer. The flower is from SU! Garden Greetings. I embossed three flowers with white EB powder on the orange cardstock and then cut each flower, layer by layer. I then popped up the flower, layer by layer and then added a white brad. I added some sheer ribbon across the card and then added a little sheer bow under the side of the flower. The leaves were made with a SU! Sizzlit die and on Sahara Sand SU! Paper.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Smiles...Lesley :)

WSC81-Thinking of You (For Leah)

This card was made for the WSC81 Sketch Challenge. I made it for a friend who passed away this week. I am in shock, even though she had been unwell for a while. We had worked together for a few summers in Dawson City, YT. Although we did not keep in touch, her passing was devasting to me. She was in her thirties; young and vibrant. She was a beautiful dancer and I enjoyed performing on stage with her. I am hoping to send this to her family, to let them know the effect she made in my life.Thank you for stopping by. Remember to live each day to the fullest; laugh, love and make each day, the best day!

Lesley

CC218: Only Summer Kisses (SCS)

Here is my submission for this week's colour challenge on SCS. I wanted to make something springy. I used the Pretty Petals Set from SU! and coloured the images with Celery, Only Orange and Summer Sun SU! Markers. I added last year's Sale-A-bration Celery ribbon to the top of the card and did a double knot for the bow. The tag is attached with dimensionals as is the whole front panel. I don't think I have ever popped up the whole front panel before!!

The card measures 5"x10".

Thanks for stopping by!! Please leave a comment so I can come and visit your blog or gallery.

Smiles,

Lesley :)