Paper Players Challenge #26- Heat Embossing

Today there is a great challenge at the Paper Players Challenge Blog from Jaydee to use your heat gun and to get embossing!!  I am not one to use Heat Embossing very much, I always tend to shy away from it.  Lately I have been challenging myself to get the Heat Gun out and to use it more, it is a terrific tool and really adds a new dimension to cards!!!

To make my card today, I cut two pieces of Very Vanilla Cardstock at 3 1/4" x 4".  I put one of the pieces through my Big Shot with my Oval Nestie and lined up the oval shape to be centred on the piece of vanilla cardstock.

Then using my Dotto, I added some removable stickiness to the back of the oval mask I had created and temporarily stuck the two original pieces of cardtsock together.  Then using my En Francais background stamp, I inked it up with Marina Mist Ink and stamped on top of my mask.  Then I ran my embossing buddy over the entire area I just stamped and inked up my floral image from Just Believe in Whisper White Craft Ink.  The white really pops against the Vanilla.  Then I sprinkled my White Embossing powder over top and heat set the powder with my heat gun.  Allowing the image to cool down after I set it with the Heat Gun, I then gently removed the top mask.  Using my Adhesive Remover eraser, I gently rubbed off the dotto from my main panel.  Then I took a sponge and inked it with Marina Mist and gently rubbed over the image to make it stand out.  Then I rubbed away the ink from my embossed image with a paper towel. 

I then cut a 4 1/4" x 11" piece of cardtsock in Not Quite Navy to make the card base and cut a 4 x 5 1/4" piece of Vanilla Carstock.  I used some Marina Mist Satin ribbon to add some sheen.  The Not Quite Navy mat for the main image measures 3 1/2" x 4 1/4".

Head on over to the Paper Players Blog to see the wonderful samples created by the Design Team.

Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge #308

One last post for the night!  I found this neat sketch at the Splitcoast Stampers Website and decided to play with the designer paper called "Elegant Soiree" (117163).  The colours came from the paper, I love Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla together!  So soft and pretty!

I used my En Francais Stamp set to create the back panel.  I love that stamp!  It is my favourite by far!! 

Off to sleep!  Back to work tomorrow.  The snow day is over!!

Smiles,

There must have been some magic, in that old silk hat they found....

Today has been a lovely day all round!  Today we had a snowday and being a teacher, I got the chance to stay home and play get some work done!  I spent the day baking, tidying and lazying (my own word).

The day just got better because I just found out that I won over at the Friday Mashup Challenge! I also get the chance to be their Guest Designer on Dec. 9th!!  Woot-woot!  The challenge looks like fun but I can't let you know what it is YET!!!  It is going to be a blast!!  I hope you check in on December 9th to see what I've created.

In between all my hard work today, I managed to get some holiday cards done as well.  Next Wednesday is December 1st and I need to send my Christmas Cards out to all our friends and family!!!  This card below is a combo of the current CPS and Mojo Sketches...I love the vintage feel of it.  This Bells and Boughs set is really my favourite this year!!  I love the vintage, antiqued images.  I am not happy with the small oval punch and the modern label punch that I used at the bottom...maybe I should have left it bare.  Any suggestions?

Well off to make dinner for my big sweetie...he is due home soon and will be hungry as soon as he walks in the door!!

Smiles,

Friday Mashup #19 and Stamping 411 Sketch #178

There is a great challenge blog called "Friday Mashup" I have discovered and I wanted to play along with their fun challenge this week to make a Snowman card! We are supposed to get 10-15 cm tonight of the white stuff!!!  What a week it has been!!  Winter is here and I finally got the chance to play tonight but when I checked out the time limit, I realized that I had under an hour to play along!  Ack!  So I went with a Clean and Simple Card!  I also used the CAS sketch at my favourite Stamping 411 Challenge blog!!!  So it all went hand in hand!

Here is the sketch from Stamping 411:

Here is my card!  I changed the rectangle to be a circle and I used my smallest circle punch to punch out each scallop around the circle.  I think if you click on the picture of the card you will see some of the glitter and glam I used.

I'd better go link this up!!  Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

CPS Sketch Challenge #194-In Stitches....

I was surfing around yesterday and stumbled upon this open ended sketch at the Card Positioning Systems.  I wanted to make something vintage and tried some faux stitching...my stitching needs some serious practice and believe me, it would look worse if I actually tried to use a sewing machine, although at this point, it really would be a toss up.  The card was coming together nicely until I added the stitching...sigh...why didn't I resist the urge to stitch.

I used the Bells and Boughs set (my favourite) and added some of the Deck the Halls DSP.

Yesterday was a busy day! I finished my Report Cards on Saturday and so spent yesterday, re-reading them...to make sure everything was in order.  On Friday we had our first snowfall and it is so pretty outside but cold!  This morning is crisp and pretty, the sky is full of grayness and I think there maybe more snow on the way for us!  Lots on the ground right now.

Only 32 days until Christmas Eve!  Eek!  I am seriously behind on my Christmas Shopping.  My husband's family is in Ontario and I need to get my shopping done so I can send their gifties out in the mail.  Last year we spent Christmas with them and had a lovely time.  My mother-in-law Linda is Mrs. Claus!  She dresses up and has lots of fun making Christmas special!  It was awesome!  I need to get myself in gear and get my own Mrs. Claus outfit ready...it really adds to the Spirit of Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of my sideways stitching...maybe it is endearing somehow....maybe?!!!

Smiles,

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Bells and Boughs, All Holidays (sentiment) and En Francais
Paper: Deck the Halls DSP, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and Naturals Ivory
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Cherry Cobbler, Black, Crumb Cake, Stampin' Write Marker in Cherry
Tools: Big Shot, Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Mat Pack, Piercing Tool, Sponges

Online Spectacular Sale is HERE!!!

The Stampin' Up Online Spectacular Sale is here!  Please visit my online Stampin' Up Store to see the great deals with item ranging from 20-50% off!  Any online order $200 or over has FREE shipping!  You can order sale items or any items you have been waiting to order.

To visit my online store please click HERE and go to Shop Now.

If you have any questions, please email me.  My email address is located in my profile.

Smiles,

Paper Players Challenge#25: A Sketch from Nance

This week at  The Paper Players, we have a great sketch brought to you by Nance!  I love this sketch because it is so "do"able!  Change up the circles and make the sketch your own!!!

My card is definitely my "own" take on the sketch.  I am not sure about this card yet, I used Naturals Ivory as the base of my card and I don't usually do that.  Especially because I used some of the DSP right over top of the card base!  Oh well, this is me trying something new, you should come and play with us this week and try something new too!!!

Be sure to stop by the Design Team Blogs to check out their wonderful work:

Jaydee

Ann Schach

Nance Leedy

Anne-Marie Hile

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

Pals Paper Arts-Clean and Simple with Ribbon

I wanted to play along with the Pals Paper Arts.  This week's challenge was to go Clean and Simple with your card and add some ribbon or material.  I decided to make a Pop Up Card for this challenge with Clean and Simple lines.  I let the Designer Paper do all the hard work for me!  It helped me to choose the colours and I went from there!

The Pop Up card might not seem CAS but it is SO easy to make!  The directions are found HERE on Splitcoast Stampers.  They are really easy to follow.  I also keep all the elements on my card clean so I could showcase the Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon.  I used my Soft Holly Standard Wheel to make a nice design on the Old Olive, I just love how easy wheels are to use! 

The best thing about this card is that it folds up so you can put it into a regular A2 envelope.  The ribbon fits perfectly and peeks out from the top of the card while it is folded.

My stamping club met this week and we made a Pop Up card as well.  I have some photos to share of my friends who came to stamp with me! This is only half of my group.  I need to get photos of the other three ladies next time!!   We have a fun club and it is always a blast getting together once a month!! 

If you have any questions please feel free to email me, my email address is located in my Profile.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies for PPA Card:

Stamps: Peaceful Season, Soft Holly Wheel, Retired Hostess Set for the sentiment

Paper: Jolly Holiday DSP, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Inks: SU! Stampin' Write Markers in Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler, Cherry Cobbler Ink Pad

Extras: Cherry Seam Binding, Scoring Blade, Snowflake Strip for the Big Shot, Pearls

Stampin' 411 Sketch Challenge-Traditional Christmas Cardinal

Wow!  Tuesday night already, the weeks go fast around here.  I made this card for the current Stamping 411 Sketch .  I made it right after the sketch was posted but for some reason I couldn't find the memory card for our camera?!  It has vanished!!!  I have searched high and low for it!!  Sheesh!  I couldn't take a photo until tonight, when I remembered that the camera has a "mini-me" memory card.  So I got that one out and got my photo taken.  I was worried I was going to miss the deadline!!  Yikes!  I did miss the deadline for last week's Colour Throwdown.  I was sad about that!!

I have a confession to make!!  The image is one I borrowed from my friend Glenda.  I don't actually have this stamp set but it is on my list!! I LOVE how it stamps.  I love the detail in the cardinal.  Yep, it is on my ever-growing Wishlist now. 

Thank you for stopping by!!  You should go play along with the Operators at Stamping 411.  Their sketches are always user friendly and they have great suggestions and tips for new and old cardmakers alike!!

Enjoy your day tomorrow!! If you have any questions about how I made this card or supplies I used, please feel free to email me.  My email is located in my profile.

Happy Stamping!

Smiles,

Supplies Used

Stamps: A Cardinal Christmas (pg 39-111760), En Francais

Inks: Markers, Real Red

Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Very Vanilla

Tools: Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Eyelet Border Punch,

Paper Players Challenge #24-Ann's Colour Challenge

It's time for another Colour Challenge over at the Paper Players Challenge Blog.  Today Ann is our hostess and she is challenging us to use Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and any Neutral.  I was so excited when she chose these colours because I wanted to use my Deck the Halls Designer Paper!!



I made my own handmade poinsettia on this 5x5 square card!  I made the poinsettia using the "French Foliage" stamp set.  I got the idea from Vicki Burdick and Connie Babert.  Please see THIS POST for links to their blogs.  I inked the small leaf stamp 8 times in Cherry Cobbler and then cut each leaf out by hand.  Then I layered the leaves to create a poinsettia, adhering the leaves together with glue dots.

I used many tools to create this card!! I hope you like it and play along with our Colour Challenge this week!!  To play along simply click HERE to link up your card!!!  As always, please email me if you have any questions and I love to hear from you in my comment box...hint, hint!!

Be sure to check out the Design Team Creations:
Ann Schach
Jaydee
Nance Leedy
Anne Marie Hile



Smiles,

Stampin' Up Supplies Used
Stamps:  Seasonal Sentiments 121130, French Foliage 121166
Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and Early Espresso
Paper: Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Deck the Halls Designer Paper 120810
Tools: Scallop Corner Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Paper Snips
Extras: Pearls, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon 120992

Sketch Challenge on SCS-Just Believe

I am happy to share a card I made for the current Sketch Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.  I recently ordered a bunch of goodies from the Clearance Rack and wanted to play with some new retired paper called Raspberry Tart.  Why did I never order this stuff when it was current?  I LOVE it!! It was the inspiration for my card today!!

My card base is Rose Red and I layered it with Early Espresso and a piece of the Raspberry Tart DSP.  Then I flipped over another small piece of the DSP and used that across the middle of my card.  I have noticed some stampers sponge a So Saffron Ink over the place when their main image is going to go.  I love the look and thought I would try it.  What do you think?  Does it look misplaced?

So I am placing an order tonight.  Does anyone have some interesting suggestions of little, fun items that I could add to my order?  I was at Anne-Marie Hile's blog the other day and saw that she had used some  Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink in Gold Lame.  I LOVED the look and immediately went to my cattie to find it.  It is on my list!!!

On a personal note, poor Cyrus, our beloved pup, really hurt himself yesterday.  He has bone cancer but he has been okay other than he has been acting hyper and stressed.  Yesterday he tried to get out of the house while we were at work and he hurt his bad leg even more than it was.  He is not weight bearing on it and he is in a lot of pain.  The crazy thing is, his pain is not from the bone cancer but from his crazy episode.  We are hoping that he is better tomorrow and that he will come through this. He is still eating and is functioning normally.  He is better today than last night and I hope he continues to get better.  He has been sleeping in the middle, staying close to us. He is so affectionate.  This is tough stuff.  We have him on new meds now and he is calmer.  Which is good.  I hope he can make it, we don't want him to suffer.

Thank you for stopping by.  As always, if you have any questions or thoughts to share, please do!!! 

Smiles,

Just Us Girls Sketch Challenge #58

Wow! Second post for the day! I am on a roll but I should really go and get some housework done after this! LOL!  I was searching the web for a sketch inspiration when I stumbled upon the JUGS Sketch Challenge.  I decided to use my French Foliage Stamp and to create a poinsettia with it.  I have seen some beautiful flowers created with this set and wanted to try it out!  My inspiration comes from two talented ladies Vicki Burdick and Connie Babert. 

I inked up each leaf and cut them out by hand.  I used Poppy Parade and Always Artichoke to create the poinsettia and some Crumb Cake for the En Francais background on the main panel.  The sentiment comes from Jolly Old St. Nick from the Stampin' Up Mini Catalogue.  I added some pearls to the centre of the flower.  The bottom is punched with the Scallop Edge Punch and the designer paper comes from the Hostess Level 1 set in the main catalogue.  Once again, the base of my card is Naturals Ivory from SU!  I just love it!

Thank you for stopping by!  If you have any questions please feel free to email me.  My email address is located in my Profile.

Enjoy your day!
Smiles,

Medallion Background Stamp (CASE)

Today I want to share a clean and simple card I made using the Medallion Background Stamp.  I found a similar card in an online gallery made by Susan Copp.  She didn't have a blog I could link up, but I wanted to give her credit for her beautiful design that I CASEd. (Copy and Share Everything)

To make this card, I simply stamped the Medallion stamp twice, one in Crumb Cake Ink and one in Soft Suede on two different pieces of Naturals Ivory Cardstock.  Then I used my Scallop Circle Punch to punch out the centre of the Suede medallion and popped it up on Dimensionals on the Crumb Cake Medallion.  The sentiment comes from the beautiful Peace on Earth Hostess Level 2 stamp set in the Mini Catalogue.  I stamped it in Early Espresso. The entire Ivory Piece of cardstock was sponged with Soft Suede Ink. 

I think this card would look beautiful in blue hues as well and is a simple card to reproduce for many friends and family.  The stamp does all the work!

Thanks for stopping by!

I love hearing from you, please let me know what you think and as always, if you have any questions, please email me.  My email address is located in my profile.

Smiles,

Paper Players Challenge #23-Snowman Theme

It is time for another Challenge at the Paper Players Challenge Blog.  I am this week's host and I have challenged my team to make a paper project using a Snowman on it!!  You can create any paper project such as a scrapbooking page, a card, a 3D project or maybe even a project using material!

I decided to change the shape of my card to a Tent Topper Style of card.  I cut my cardstock base in Pacific Point Paper and measured it to be 8.5" x 4.25".  Then I folded it in half.  Then using my Circle Scissors Plus, I cut a 2.75" circle out of Whisper White Paper and used the Scallop Circles #2 Die to create a Bashful Blue Scallop Circle for the top of my card!

I used the PRETTY Blueberry Crisp Designer Paper (117392) on pg.174.  This paper has all my favourite colours in it and could be easily adapted to work on a holiday card as I have used it here!  I stamped the "Winter Wonderrland" sentiment in White Craft Ink directly onto the Designer Paper and heat embossed it with White Embossing Powder and my Heat Gun.  Using a little Bashful Blue Ribbon and my Snowflake Punch, I added some sweet details to the card that makes it extra special for that someone special!

A Tip:
-The best new thing about Stampin' Up's Colour Change is the addition of the Crumb Cake Marker.  I used the marker to gently highlight the snowman, so he didn't appear flat on the Whisper White Cardstock.

Check out the work from the Design Team:

Ann Schach
Jaydee
Nance Leedy
Anne Marie Hile (Guest Designer)

I love reading your comments and appreciate you taking the time to stop and say hello!  If you ever have any questions about my cards, please email me.  My email address is located in my profile.

Smiles,
Lesley

Pals Paper Arts Colour Challenge and Stamping 411 Sketch

Thank you to all my blogging friends who have left messages and emails for me regarding my pup Cyrus.  He is calmer tonight, we hope he will sleep more soundly.  I really appreciate your thoughts and kindness.  Tonight I had the chance to stamp (my husband was watching football, hanging out with Cyrus) and I decided to try the Stamping 411 Sketch with the Pals Paper Arts Colour Challenge which is to use Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight and Basic Grey.  These colours are so pretty together and look pretty sharp with Whisper White. 

The 411 sketch is great and I decided to pull out Vintage Vogue because of the flowers in that set, I wanted them to overhang the rectangle like in the original sketch design found HERE.

This was my first creation:

I wanted to create my card with a Clean and Simple look.  I used Whisper White as my card base and added some major bling to my flowers with SU! gemstones (I love these things!!).  After I created this card I decided to go back to the drawing board and start again because I realized that I was a little off from the sketch at Stamping 411.

With more layers and some designer paper, I stepped up this card with some depth and weight.  I am really happy with both cards.  The designer paper is from the Level One Hostess Pack in the Big SU! Catalogue.

So what do you think?  Which style appeals to you?  Please let me know if you have any questions about what I used on my card or how I made my cards by emailing me.  My email address is located in my profile.  Please leave me a comment to let me know which "look" you like the best!  I really enjoy hearing from you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

Handstamped Sentiments Colour Splash

The gals over at Handstamped Sentiments have a terrific colour challenge happening this week!  They are looking for projects that use Cajun Craze, More Mustard and Pear Pizzazz.  I LURVE this colour combo!  I got out my favourite stamp set called "Elements of Style" and inked it up! 

Like to Colour?  This stamp set inks up beautifully and it a cinch to colour!  A little trick is to rub a versamark ink pad over the image after it is coloured...this gives the image a smooth, sleek finish.  Then I used the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz to really make the flowers sparkle and heat set the shimmer with my heat gun.

I wanted to make a set of 4 matching cards and a box to hold them!  Christmas is all about handmade gifts and this would be a lovely gift for a friend or co-worker! 

A little note...

I used the Naturals Ivory Cardstock (101849) for my card base and the box.  It is a heavier cardstock than Very Vanilla and would make beautiful Paper for Wedding Invitations!

Thanks for stopping by!  If you have any questions please feel free to email me by visiting my profile!  I would love to hear from you!!  And please let me know what you think by leaving a comment.  I appreciate it so much!

Smiles,

Resisting Tiramisu Snowflakes (Stamping 411 Sketch) & Creative Card Crew Challenge

The sketch over at the Stamping 411 is a goodie!  I was inspired to play and wanted to challenge myself with an idea I had floating around in my head.  What if I heated embossed the Serene Snowflakes in White Embossing Powder and then stamped over them in Chocolate Chip Ink with the En Francais Background stamp and then sponged over the snowflakes with Crumb Cake Ink?  An emboss resist technique!  Who can resist Tiramisu! The colours I used look liked a yummy dessert to me! So I am calling this my Tiramisu Technique!

I also made this card for the Creative Card Crew Challenge "Let's Punch It!"  I used the Scallop Border Punch and the Corner Punch to make the edging around the Snowflakes.  The sentiment is punched out with the Large Oval Punch. 

Both my husband and I have been tired lately, I have not been in the usual crafting craze I usually am, which is to make cards everyday!  Our beloved Wonder Dog, Cyrus was recently diagnosed with bone cancer.  He was diagnosed on September 3rd, the weekend before school started.  (That was a stressful weekend!!)  He is our fur baby, eventhough he is 12, he is like a child for us and it has been awful watching him slow down in the past few months.  He doesn't seem to realize that he is unwell and we have him on the many pain killers and other medicines the Vet has prescribed.  These medications do help him.  The past two nights he has been unable to sleep and has been asking to go out.  I think because of Halloween, there are many firecrackers still going off around here and they tend to make him jump!  He hates the noise of them.  Needless to say, we have had two sleepless nights, looking after him.  He has been sticking his wet nose into our faces while we are sleeping.  A wet nose wake up is not always pleasant, especially throughout the night!  So tonight we are both pooped!  My husband is already snoring away in the other room! Poor guy!

As to Cyrus and his bone cancer, he is doing much better than any of us thought he would. I want to thank my pal Jaydee for her kind words in her blog posts about Cyrus.  Here is a photo of our 100lb "baby"!  He loves running on the beach!  There is another photo of him in my right sidebar.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderful Thursday!

Smiles,