Christmas in Ontario

What a start to Christmas morning, my husband and I were having fun, posing for one of our dopey pictures we usually like to take. For some reason, we have a few of these types of pictures that have been taken over the years! It is like we were meant to be or something! LOL!We are currently in Ontario, celebrating Christmas with my husband's family. Above is a picture of my husband Corey with his mommy and his sister Glenda. My mother-in-law is amazing when it comes to Christmas...her home is all decorated with cute little snowman and awesome christmas decor. Her tree is a black Alaskan spruce with all white and silver ornaments...it is spectacular. This morning we opened our gifts and have just had a brunch. My sweetie is sleeping in the arm chair, relaxed and happy, spending Christmas with his mommy. Boys oh Boys, were we ever spoiled! Here is my brother-in-law Rob, looked relaxed and happy!Today we are going to visit my husband's granny who is in the hospital and then we will come back here to enjoy a Christmas feast cooked by Corey's mommy. Here is his mommy, all dressed up as Mrs. Claus!Just look at her new home. She and her husband just built this gorgeous home over the Spring and Summer. It is stunning! It is like going to stay at a fancy B&B! I must get outside to take some pictures of this beautiful town, there is a lot of old architecture to admire. This morning as we were opening gifts, we saw a red-headed woodpecker outside. Corey took some pictures of the bird. This is Corey's mommy and his sister, Glenda showing off the new gold earrings Corey picked out for them. Look how happy Corey and his mommy are to be spending Christmas morning together!!!! Can you say CUTE!Here are our lovely hosts, in their new home on Christmas Day!

Splitcoast Stampers Colour Challenge #250

My husband's granny is not well and in the hospital. We are going to spend Christmas with his family this year and I wanted to make Granny a pretty card. When I saw the bright, cheerful colours for the colour challenge I was inspired to make this card! I used my favourite stamp set called Sweet Stems and the sentiment came from the hostess set Kind and Caring Thoughts.Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley :)

Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge (CAS) and Colour Throwdown #73

This card was really a stretch for me...where is the main image? LOL! I used my SU! retired set called Big Flowers and tried to make a single layer card...I still layered it with the DSP but the main card face is one layer. The Sketch came from the current Stamping 411 Sketch #130!This is a fun and whimsical card...I started out making it for the current Colour Throwdown but he greens didn't work with this design so I had to make another card to incorporate that challenge. So I inked up my Snow Buddies set and went to work! I just love that little snowman!I am pretty sure these will be the last cards from me for this year!Thanks for stopping by! I wish you and yours the very best for the Holiday Season and the upcoming year.

Smiles,

Lesley :)

Pink Elephant Sketch Challenge #46 and Creative Card Crew DT Call (Anything Goes)

This card was made for the Creative Card Crew Challenge "Anything Goes"! I am also submitting this card for the Creative Card Crew Design Team Call. This card was also made for the Pink Elephant Sketch Challenge #46. I really loved the sketch and wanted to break into some of my new paper. I actually opened and cut into my SU! "To the Nines" designer paper. Here is a better picture to show off the finished inside. I love that Flowers in Silhouette stamp!The sentiment is from All Holidays and I inked it up in White Craft Ink and heat embossed it with White Embossing Powder. Then I used Chocolate Ink and my Flower in Silhouette stamp, also from SU!, and stamped it over the sentiment. Then I used a clean cloth to wipe away the brown ink from the embossed sentiment, thus doing a "Emboss Resist" technique! Yeah me!!! I need to challenge myself out of my comfort zone and do more techniques like this!!!Is the card too dark? I thought it looked like Chocolate and my friend in Vancouver LOVES chocolate and hopefully she will love this card too! I was not happy with the strip at the bottom of the card, maybe I should have used the Flower stamp along it as well. I inked all the Kraft paper with Chocolate ink and a sponge. I added some twine to the bottom to continue to earthy feel of this card.

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!

Thank you for stopping by!! I can't wait to see what everyone else does with this sketch!!

Smiles,

Lesley :)

Sketch Saturday #82-Birthday Wishes

It feels so good to be creative again! With my teaching job and the card classes I held, I must admit I was feeling tapped out! I decided to continue with my chocolate/pink theme (I love those colours together) and played along with this week's Sketch Saturday Challenge. The layout was a stretch for me but that is the best part about Challenges! They challenge you!

The main image is from SU!'s stamp set called Crazy for Cupcakes, I have wanted that set forever and just purchased it for myself! I used the Modern Label punch for the sentiment which is from Garden Greetings. Garden Greetings is being retired at the end of this month which is too bad because the words in that set stamp so nicely, it is one of my favourite stamp sets. I think this may be my last card posted for this year!! Maybe I will be able to squeeze in one more!!

Merry Christmas to all my blogging friends, I hope you have a restful holiday break.

Smiles,

Lesley :)

Friday Sketchers and Pals Paper Arts

This card was created for two challenges. It has been a week since I last crafted because I seemed to have lost my MOJO!!! So tonight I was looking through the challenges I was inspired by the current Pals Paper Arts Colour Challenge and the current Friday Sketchers Sketch Challenge. Whew...this card was a project and a real different card for me to make. Firstly it has many layers and I have incorporated three different techniques; dry embossing, sponging and faux stitching. I inked the edges of the flowers I created with my Big Shot with More Mustard. The stamp is from a retired hostess set which I love.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Lesley ;)

Supplies

Paper: Old Olive, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard

Stamps: Echoes of Kindness (Retired SU!)

Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzlet Flower, Textured Pad and Impressions, Paper Piercer, Mats Pack, Sponging, dimensionals, glue dots

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 :)

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.