Fab Collab Friendship Pack - Part two

The second card in the Friendship Fab Collab Pack was made by Mrs Dragon? What Dragon's you say...all I see are flowers. Well aside from this very unique and distinctive flower card she also makes hand illustrated dragons.

This card is very simple, a handcut and layered flower with a sewn button center. I love the stamped definition of Friendship under the flower...just wonderful. Below I have a close-up of the flower so you can see the beauty in slight imperfection!

Fab Collab Friendyship Pack

EtsyGreetings is a dynamic group of handmade card makers...visit the blog for inspiration!! Each day a new greeting card maker is featured! So many styles and types to choose from.

As part of a promotion, we did a card swap and plan to offer this fabulous collaboration in our stores! A neat way of giving a shopper a very nice selection of styles.

This card made by Chromatica is a gorgeous 5X7 cream card covered with pink and green designer paper...and an amazing punched design in the center all backed by different color bits of paper to create the multi-color design. Friendship is handstamped in red. This card reminds my of the Pennsylvania Dutch style!

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http://www.dealdotcom.com/invite/7895/

I'm going on a Mission...

For anyone that has a preschool toddler they know the rest of this song...by heart! For those of you who don't...it is the Little Einsteins theme song. My son is an absolute LE fan...and wanted that as his BD them this year...however, Disney hasn't really released any 'theme' items. So off I went searching and I came up with this card...isn't it awesome!!!

I have no idea what you call it...Pull-It Pop-up? Well, you pull the sides and the inside pops out of the top...it is TOTALLY amazing! I mean I had to make a couple extra because once I showed it to my son...he NEEDED one...and I have two kids so she NEEDED one too. You know how that goes...when they are this age...that NEED is like the end of the world.

As for the actual stamping, I used VersaMark and the TAC Harlequin to make the subtle triangle background on the outside. The main sentiment "You're invited" is a G Company $1 stamp from Michaels...can you believe that.

I am starting to like the clear stamps now that I know how to use them. They take a much lighter hand and it REALLY helps to use a rubber eraser when they are new to take off the oily residue so that the ink sticks to them. The bicycle is TAC Birthday Blessings colored in with Watercolor pencils (didn't bother to blend). I basically used either Palette L'Amor Red or Prussian Blue here...to distress and to stamp the sentiment.

I just can't tell you how much I LOVE the concept of this card...definitely a lot of wow factor for the time put in! I also think it makes the most wonderful invitations for the preschool set...if my kids (4 and 2) are an example, they spent a couple of hours playing with this card...well until my son took it apart to see how it worked (I'm pretty sure he is going to be an engineer).

Thanks so much for looking!
Lisa.

I dream of Stamping...

Okay it is official, I have lost my mind. I was relaxing going to bed, thinking about all the stamping projects I have to do...so, so many. I am making my son's BD invites, my mom's retirement party invites, favors and centerpieces...and because I can't do enough...I decided to do my first craft show. So I am frantically learning/trying out new products as we speak. AND I actually had my first stamping dream! Do you DREAM about stamping? I was actually accomplishing all the above projects, boy was I disappointed when I woke up and they were still in various stages of NOT complete. The good news is that I worked though a couple of ideas and finally decided WHAT to put on the front of my son's invite. They are totally cool!

Now while I have been crafting like crazy, I haven't had the chance to take photos and what not to show everyone! I hope to have a whole bunch real soon...maybe even tonight!

Today is my Birthday!!!

Okay I REALLY love BDs...doesn't matter that I'm old now (or just feel that way ha, ha) but I don't care I still love BDs. My daughter has been singing me "Happy Birthday to mommy...for cake" because I told her she couldn't have any cake unless she sang Happy Birthday (she loves cake). Well she was a little put out at dinner when we didn't have cake (my husband always makes one, but we were out all day...tomorrow will be fine...she did not agree).

My son has a BD in September too...last year when my cake came all aflame and my sister put it down in front of me, his excited face fell and he said, "But that's my cake!"

So this morning he woke me up and said "Happy Birthday, mommy" then said he was sad. I asked him why...he responded..."Because it isn't my BD today...its yours". But then he layed in bed with me while my husband and Bella went down to make breakfast...because it is his Birthday Month he felt he should have a lie in as well.

Anyway, I'm working on his invites and they are adorable, but I would rather post the BRAK I received...it was absolutely stunning.

Not sure of the Stamp Sets because they are SU! but it is a beautiful criss cross card by Theresa (SCS n2myscrap). She also has just started a blog, so you should definitely visit it!

That's it for now.

Lisa.

Okay I'm embarrassed...Poll Final Results

I had a prize and everything ready for the person who won! And it was me...hmm. Thank you to everyone that voted!!! I feel very grateful.

If anyone was curious...click on the pictures to find out who was offering each card! I'll save my prize for the next contest...or I could give it to the 2nd place winner. Comment and let me know...what should I do?

I can't wait to do a Holiday Challenge (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa...it'll be really fun).

And this weekend I will be posting the absolutely adorable Little Einstein BD invitations...they are totally cool. My son is over the moon.

It's begining to feel NOT like Christmas...

It is so hot here I don't feel like Christmas at all...but I do have to get moving. I officially signed up for my first Craft Show...so I'm in a steady state panic! I mean how DO people do this every weekend all summer long. I have about 8 weeks and I'm freaking out if I will be able to make enough stuff and what I should make...so right now my head is going in all different directions...we'll see.

Well I just finished an order of my fall cards and I always include a handwritten note (although I always write the note on a sticky note inside the card so they can use it again!). But this was such a nice lady I would like to include a little something extra from what will be my Holiday Collection. Can't hurt to advertise a little bit.

So here is yet another mini 3X3 card...is anyone sick of them? I am having a hard time stopping them....and I'm addicted to making the handmade envelopes....I mean they are just eating through my paper mountain...I am soo happy. All that not quite good enough paper just works perfectly with any envelope template...and I've even tweaked the envelope template to use 6X6 squares for 4X4 cards...how did I do that...like all crafters out of necessity. I had an order for 15 cards...and only 4 sheets of the coordinating paper left.

The first card is made using my TAC Snowflakes and Winterflakes and Kaleidacolor Blue Breeze...I can't get over how cool this combo is...and it is two years later!

I stamped a piece of copy paper to make the coordinating envelope.

Here is a new little thing I'm trying an emblem on the back with red sticky tape to close the envelope.


















The second card is very simple, white and navy cardstock with a silver embossed snowflake as the main image. I feel like there should be a caption but don't have a small enough Christmasy type stamp...other than "for you".

Pink Poodles

This year I am organizing my women's club annual holiday auction...it is a big deal and I'm a bit worried. Not only is it my first year, but being me I had to make a whole bunch of changes! I moved the auction to the evening so working people can come, want to offer credit cards and I really plan to make it "the" event of the year.

The theme of this year's auction is the 1950's now I have not lived in that era, but many of our members have so they are really getting into it! We collect donations from members and surrounding businesses to auction off (hmm, if you want to donate anything...it's tax deductible...and goes to support programs focusing on women and children).

So needless to say, I'm going to be tired...but my best work comes out when I'm tired so that works. Speaking of tired I offered an incentive prize for anyone who brought in donations on the first meeting...and of course I remembered around midnight the day before! That is where these cards came from...my midnight inspiration!

I borrowed this Poodles Stamp Set isn't it just TOO cute...unfortunately it is retired. But I'm sure something else might be just as cute. Ever since that SCS challenge I can't seem to stop myself from making adorable 3X3 cards....and with stampwithgwen's envelope template I really have a problem now. So I started with white cardstock, and now this is interesting...the middle part is 2.5" + two lines...I can never remember the other measurements...so it is a bit larger than 2.5" square and it really looks nicer with the white border. I cuttle'd the pink with Divine Swirls, wrapped black gingham ribbon around it then used my Mega Scallop Square to punch out my poodle! Punch out my Poodle...sounds bad but it is exactly what I did (no poodles were hurt in the making of this card). I watercolored the little ribbon pink, and stamped "thank you" from the TAC All Occasion set...I use those phrases more than any other stamp set (well I use Tag Tidbits alot as well). Simple, and pretty darn cool.

I also made handmade envelopes out of the black piece of paper from the TAC Uptown Girl collection (never knew what to do with that piece...perfect for this use). The ladies LOVED them.

Now I also made a 2-5-7-10 box, it was adorable...but being bleary eyed I forgot to take a picture of it...but if you were imagining it...it was pink, and I stamped the poodle in black around the bottom...and made a square tag with the poodle (ala card) and tied the bow with black gingham ribbon! Totally cute...and so easy...oh yeah and I filled with Hershey kisses.

Contest!! Pick your favorite card!

Here are the entries for the contest...the poll is in the right hand margin. Please vote...voting ends September 7th! I'll announce the winner on September 8th...my BD!!



Patterned Leaves


















Falling Leaves














Thankful Poodle















Fall Birds

The next three cards are all one entry!
Vintage Fall

Snowflake 2-5-7-10 box

I would like to share with you a quick and easy box that can fit quite a few little trinkets! The instructions were posted on SCS by Jenn Balcer I'll copy them here and provide a link. Then give you a few tips of my own in pink of course !

Position cardstock lengthwise. Using scoring blade on paper trimmer, score cardstock at 2", 5", 7", and 10".

Turn cardstock, and score at 2" and 7".

Stamp scored cardstock as desired. I did this before scoring because I hate it when I can see the seam!!! Although if you are trying to center a pattern for effect...stamp afterwards.

Hold cardstock horizontally with the 2" section at the top.Use scissors to cut off all but one 2" tall section from the top of the cardstock as shown. This will be the flap closure for the box. Cut the narrow piece at an angle to create tab for adhesive. Make vertical cuts at the bottom to create 1 1/2" tall flaps, and cut off the narrow piece. This will be the bottom of the box.

Use scalloped scissors for a faster decorative edge. I didn't have Scallop Scissors so I used the ones I had...not sure their exact name.

Use a bone folder or other straight edge to sharply crease all scored lines to shape box.Apply Sticky Strip close to side tab's score line.Remove red liner, and carefully construct box. I used YES glue, it take a bit to dry, but then is pretty darn indestructible. I use my bone folder to get inside the box and rub down the glued edges to get a really tight seal...then clip with clothespins until the glue sets.

Fold small flaps toward center of box, and large flaps over small flaps.Apply Sticky Strip to outside edge of large flap under what will be the box front.Remove red liner, and apply pressure to finish bottom of box.

Line up front of box with back of box at top and pinch together. Release. Punch two holes in flap with 1/8" handheld punch.

Pull flap down to close box, and use a pen to mark where holes were punched.Use 1/8" handheld punch to punch holes at markings. I used my vertical slot punch because I wanted to thread my ribbon through and not tie a bow.

Thread ribbon through holes on box. Center ribbon.

Stamp scrap cardstock (here, the largest layer is 2 3/4" square), embellish, and adhere to box front with Stampin' Dimensionals.Enjoy filling and giving!

For this specific box...

Stamps: TAC Snowflakes, TAC Winterflakes LEPaper: white cardstock, TAC NavyInk: Kaleidacolor Blue BreezeAccessories: Ribbon

Made the Etsy Front Page!!!

I can't believe it my Falling Leaves Card Set made the Etsy FrontPage!!!

Yup those little red cards in the upper left corner are MINE!! And this beautiful treasury was selected by Miscelena an Etsy newbie...not bad for her first month on Etsy!

So proud. And shmizz bought them (thanks so much!!!)...it doesn't matter how many things I sell, I am so excited when I make a sale and happy that someone liked my creations!

And thank you PlayingWithPaper for sending me a screen shot! You should check out her store...it has wonderful Amy Butler creations! Shmizz carries wonderful blank paperbag albums...predrilled and sewn!!

Falling Leaves Cards

I love the fall it is probably my favorite season after spring...I could never live anywhere without fall foliage and defined seasons. When I moved away from up north...I was so happy that I was near the Shenandoah Valley in Va...so that I wouldn't miss my wonderful Fall Foliage.

Here is my tribute to the Fall a beautiful set of 3X3s and handmade envelopes. This TAC stamp set was my first MUST HAVE set...Charcoal Leaves. I bought it when I was a newbie stamper...~2 years ago. I've used it frequently since then...and to make a newbie stamper look amazing pair it with the Kaleidacolor Cappuchinio Delight stamp pad (I've even used it as underwater foliage paired with Kaleidacolor Caribbean Sea). As I revisit this stamp set each year I benchmark my progress and the increased sophistication of my projects. When I first started I was thrilled if I could get the stamp straight! Now I am seriously drawn to anything with texture (hence my current obsession with cuttlebug embossing folders) or 3-D party favor/gift type things.

So to the cards....I used the Charcoal Leaves stamp set and that Kaleidacolor Cappuchino Delight onto Cream Colored Cardstock...punched it out with my Mega Scallop Square punch. Then I use my textile CB embossing folder...on Claret Cardstock. Finally I made an envelope using my DCWV Fall Stack...Yay I'm finally using paper IN the season I bought it...phew how far I've come :-). It is a really nice stack...I don't scrapbook much and using up all the paper can sometime be a challenge, but now I know how to make the envelopes I can see myself easily using it!

Also wanted to mention this is going to be my entry into the Fall Card Challenge! Entries close August 30th...and I will post a poll to determine the winner.

Happy Crafting!

Lisa.

Fair Awards...I won...in more ways than one

I finally have had it out with my camera and it has relinquished my pictures!!! Now the scanner is giving me trouble...bright shocking green comes out pastel and cream cardstock a weird sort of gray...but that is neither here nor there. Here are the results from my fair entries...my first ever.

I picked up my items from the fairgounds!

Blue Flower Card...1st place in the Rubber Stamped Card division

Blue Snowflake Box...2nd place in Rubber Stamped 3D (okay the item that won this...and Grand Champ of the division...was a multi-layered stamped and embossed poinsettia...four of them mounted on a board to represent the seasons...so I was very proud of my 2nd).

Black flower Card...5th place in Cards non-rubber stamped. I was surprised by this...several people gasped when they saw it while I was waiting on-line...but then again this particular category was packed with entries. Perhaps because it was ATC size it had less impact.

Magnolia Paper Jewelry...5th place...again a packed category and while my jewelry is fun and trendy it really can't compete with fine jewelry and metalwork! So I was happy to place in the ribbons at all.

Fall Card Challenge

UPDATE: Deadline is August 30th to submit entries and I will post a survey then to vote for your favorite card. Good luck and happy crafting.

I am a member of a wonderful Street Team over at Etsy...the EtsyGreetings group. They are very dynamic and the only requirement for membership is that you sell greeting cards on Etsy. We are positioning ourselves to be THE place to go if you need a card for an occasion or need special invites custom made.

Anyway, we've wanted to start our own Challenges to keep those creative juices flowing...so here is mine. Fall Card Trio anyone can participate!! Leave a comment with a link to your entries!

Make 3 cards that represent Fall to you...Halloween, Pumpkin Picking, College Football, Thanksgiving...what else can you come up with! Post a comment with a link to your challenge entry!

Here are a few 3X3's I've been playing around with....using the TAC For All Seasons...I stamped a main image all over the Vanilla Cardstock with Palette Burnt Umber then stamped the main image and watercolored. I mounted the main image on a punched Mega Scallop Square of Heritage Red Cardstock...the sentiment is from PaperTrey Ribbon Sentiments.

Good luck and happy crafting!

Lisa.

Bloomin' Babies!!!

I saw this card posted today on SCS by kimr and I just had to try it...well CASE it blatantly. This has got to be the CUTEST little card ever. The only decision I still need to make is whether I put a little sentiment inside or not.

Details, details...I used my Cuttlebug Bloom Dots again, which to me just SCREAMS Babies and Easter...can't wait to do one with a little bunny on the bib. I used my Super Jumbo Scallop Circle that I just got in the mail from PaperTrey...love them, they have all the scallop punches AND offer free shipping on them...what more could you want! I stamped this little flower from the TAC For All Seasons Set, a truly must have set...and very versatile. I've used it all week and haven't gotten a card that even looks similar! It has a little stamp (which all perfectly fit inside a 1" circle) for pretty much any occasion all year, even the start of school (an apple). So after I stamped my flower and watercolored it, I punched the bib then used my circle punch to make the neckline...finally I embellished with a little pink bow. And most importantly here is a link to the template!!!

The lace peeking out of the sleeves is just white cardstock scraps punched with the scallop punch again. The onesie snaps are made using MM pastel green mini brads. What else can be said about this card...other than it is freakin' adorable!!! The inside I just traced the pattern onto white cardstock again and cut inside the lines.

Hope you enjoyed this!

Lisa.

I'm stuck in Valentine mode...

I'm supposed to be working on some Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving creations...ie Fall, but I'm not willing to give up on summer yet. I've also been in an incredibly mushy mood...so I'm still making my husband little cards. This latest card was inspired by my husband being really great this week. I got a MAJOR sinus migraine and was flat on the couch...the cleaning lady was coming. She hasn't been here in like 4-5 weeks, which means I don't exactly have the house up to "her standards"...sad but true...I clean for my cleaning lady. And boy does she make my house look great!

Anyway...my husband did everything, including a load of sheets...and picked up everything that needed sorting and gave it to me on the couch...where I sorted.

So this card was inspired by him...well and the fact that I wanted to try out a bunch of 3X3 cards...using the TAC For All Seasons set. Well then my friend Gwen at StampwithGwen uploaded this super simple template on how to make 3X3 envelopes. So LOTS of inspiration here!



Using Gwen's template, I fashioned the envelope in about 5 seconds flat. Gwen is amazing in that she can take complicated things...and make them soo, soo simple. She has just started blogging and let me tell you her blog is definitely worth a peruse...her stuff is REALLy good. So the envelope...all you need to do is cut a 3 1/4" cardstock square place it in the center of the 5" square paper...score, cut notches and viola! 3x3 envelope!!! I used a sheet of my DCWV Spring Stack...it is fall and I'm finally starting to use my Spring stack...I have some serious paper issues.



Now for the card...I used Heritage red paper and my Textile Cuttlebug Embossing folder to make it more interesting (hey I was playing)...I just love the embossing...makes any paper look good. I punched a scallop square and stamped with Palette Noir the heart image. I used the "love" sentiment from the Be Authentic LE version...this smaller version is AWESOME! I am so glad I was lucky enough to get one (Gwen got it for me). I used the larger version all the time...so I know this one will be on the top of the heap as well.

Anyway, thanks for reading and happy crafting!

Big Apology

I am soo sorry...my camera had a little breakdown and the pictures I took of the final product all assembled were terrible. And it is on its way to Italy to be a gift...sigh. I do plan to make a couple more of these...they are addictive so at some point I WILL have a picture of the actual 'Star' part...but on a positive note...I entered a few of my things in the county fair. I know County Fair...sounds kind of hokey...but I have been volunteering at this fair for over 12 years...mostly in the 4-H Horse Department...I run the horse show and pre-kids, did Performance Levels (tests) and whatever else needed doing. Now I've relaxed into a nice middle...I organize the Horse Show entries, record the results on the day and grade their written tests...yes we have the only Horse Show that has a written exam...ha, ha.

As for the rest of the fair I have ALWAYS wanted to enter something...but I would plan too late, completely forget to go down there on the entry days (some days I've even been there...but forgot my stuff). So this year I was absolutely determined!!! My son was at my parents for the week "on vacation"...see dear Sweet Bella Rose is now two and a holy terror. He needs to get away...sometimes I wish I could go with him. Ha, Ha, Ha. Anyway Bella and I headed down and stood on line, filled out the paperwork and waved the entries goodbye...at least until Sunday when I could go check and see what I won!!

...and I won a 1st and 2nd place!!! I also won two 5ths in very crowded categories...now being competitive I was a little disappointed, but in reality I did very well considering the competition and that it was my FIRST time.

So which do you think was 1st...2nd?

Magnolia Jewelry
Monochromatic Blue Flower Card

Black and White Flowers Card

2-5-7-10 Christmas Box

Details about this project coming up!

Wedding Scrapbook - Part 2

Okay here is the second part of the wedding scrapbook...and this page is my favorite! The left is that shiny silver paper, tied with a shiny silver ribbon. The wedding cake is from the TAC set Wedding Wishes and is embossed in silver. The corners were punched using the Fiskars Hearts corner punch. The right side uses that gorgeous handmade paper again with silver embossed dots. I tore the edge for something a bit different and matched the embossed look by embossing the script "love" from the TAC set Be Authentic in silver. I am really proud of how this page came out!

These next two pages are a simpler design in black and white. I wanted to have a more masculine looking page to put a picture of the groomsmen. The sadly retired TAC Harlequin stamps always screams masculine to me. I used Brilliance Moonlight White stamped on black cardstock. The punched flower, doubled up reminds me of a corsage and has a silver brad securing it to the page. On the left hand side I balanced out the top with some punched flowers in black and white with silver brads as the center. The white flower is mounted on a small black cardstock circle.

Finally this last page I HAD to use my cuttlebug folder again....so I used the Cuttle bug hearts then highlighted them with Brilliance Starlight Silver to make the embossed hearts pop! I used the Super Jumbo (blue) Heart punch and gray paper for the center. A nice heartfelt ending...to a GREAT project. I think making something with a particular person in mind always brings out the best ideas for me.

Now I know I promised to get you a picture of the whole thing assembled...and I do promise to post it tomorrow. I took a picture but didn't have a chance to get it off of my camera! So until them...it will really be worth the wait!

Wedding Scrapbook

I know it has been a long time since I have posted. But I have the most amazing mini scrapbook to share. I was over my friend Gwen's House for her Open House...and was rummaging through all the items she brought back from the TAC Conference. And I found the cutest little star scrapbook. She was kind enough to let me borrow it for inspiration and I needed a thoughtful gift for a cousin that is getting married in Italy. Initially I thought to send a pack of Thank You Cards...but everyone said not to (I like thank you cards)...but then again I don't have a "Grazie" stamp...not that she doesn't read English...like every other Italian I know (hee, hee). But when I saw this mini-scrapbook I knew this would be the perfect gift...it isn't very hard to make but has a grand visual impact!

Anyway, I hate to say my photography doesn't do justice to this little book, it just so much better IRL. I finally pulled out the stops and used my handmade paper, several cuttlebug folders and even a couple Sizzix die cuts! So strap yourself in and prepared to be amazed. Okay maybe not amazed...but if you knew me, and knew how rare it is for me to scrapbook...you should be BLOWN away!

Here is the cover of the square book...I used the swirls cuttlebug and shiny grey paper to create the background (see I told you my pictures stink!!). I corrugated a white piece of cardstock and put the die cut bookplate at the bottom. I'm hoping it will hold a great picture of the couple and the date of the wedding.

The second and third pages are simple...but the paper is just gorgeous...this is handmade paper almost translucent (and no I didn't make it) with a gorgeous metallic silver thread running all through it!

The fourth and fifth pages are also grey monochromatic. I have no idea what the actual wedding colors are going to be so I'm sort of copying the wedding invite style. I cuttlebugged this piece with the Textile folder and tore a little more handmade paper (this one has little embossed silver dots covering it). In the corner is another die cut bookplate with a very shimmery silver ribbon threaded through and knotted on each end. I adhered the bookplate with pop dots because of the bulk of the ribbon behind it.

The fifth and sixth pages, I complete changed color scheme...just to give the book some pop. And well Bella Rose is my signature...so I had to include some roses somewhere. I really like this red roses paper from DCWV Stack 3. I stamped a zig zag stitch around the paper in Palette Noir...IRL it looks quite good. First time trying the faux stitching so I was pleased. the three flowers were punched with the CM Friendship punch...and attached with silver brads (I got these at the Target $ Spot for $0.25 for 25...and they are heavy and much nicer than the MM ones...I bought up every pack they had!). The photo mount was made by Offray Ribbon Factory...local here. I've had it for forever and it worked perfectly.

Tomorrow I will share the rest of the pages and a picture of the completed book...the display is what makes this book so great! It is coffee book material.