May Your Birthday Be As Special As You Are

Hello & welcome! I'm dropping by with a card that I made for my friend's upcoming birthday. This one is being entered in three challenges-CR84FN60 Color Challenge, Mojo Monday #253 and Tuesday Alchemy #26-Bingo. The main challenge colors for CR84FN60 are grape, blue & green with white as my neutral of choice. My sketch inspiration is from the Mojo Monday sketch by Julee, Verve owner & designer. The third challenge was a Bingo from Tuesday Alchemy and I chose to work with the first vertical row of Ribbon or Bow, Glitter, and Dies or Punches. Here are the inspiration photos from the three challenges.

 

 

 

My background dp is grape and I incorporated grape in the handmade wild rose I made. In an earlier post I shared how I made these roses and a link to the tutorial that I used. Green comes into play with my polka dot dp base, Lime Green Stickles glitter and green cs I used to die cut my Verve leaves. All of the panels were die cut from Spellbinders Nestabilities dies and my small rose is also a die cut from MFT. I added some pizzazz with a polka dot ribbon from Taylored Expressions and it completed the requirements for the Tuesday Alchemy-Bingo challenge. Loved playing along with all the challenges and the sketch is definitely going to be seen again. :D The challenge colors were a bit daunting at first but once I chose my paper it sorta flowed from there. The blue seems to anchor this card and I certainly hope my friend likes it. Here's a close up of the roses and glittery leaves.

Thanks for stopping by and hope everyone is having a terrific weekend. The weather here is gorgeous so we're off to enjoy a boat ride on the lake. I'll be back with more handmade flowers soon. :) 

Hugs,

Lisa

Supplies:

Stamps: Birthday Surprise, Bloom & Grow, Sunny Days (Verve); Alphabet Stamp Set (studio G)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Bamboo Leaves; Dusty Concord, Milled Lavender & Crushed Olive Distress Ink (T!m Holtz/Ranger)

Paper: green glitter polka dot & purple flowers dp (MME); blue cs; Choice Snow White paper (TE)

Accessories: Std. Circles Lg., Cl. Scalloped Circles Lg., Cl. Squares Lg., & Long Cl. Rectangles Lg. (Spellbinders); Mini Rolled Rose Die (MFT); Leafy Sprigs Die Set  & Elegant Leaves Die (Verve); Lime Green Stickles, Eggplant Liquid Pearls & White Enamel Accents (Ranger); polka dot ribbon (TE); purple rhinestone (Want2Scrap); pearl (Kaisercraft Pearls); lavender felt (Hobby Lobby)

All About Circles

This fortnight at Top Tip Tuesday Tammy Louise is our hostess and she'd like you to create a project using circles. You can submit up to 3 projects and 3 tips, if you leave a tip remember to put (TIP) beside your name when you link up and please turn off word verification so we can leave a comment for you. My teammates have amazing inspiration to share with you on the Top Tip Tuesday blog  and we're also celebrating a special some one's birthday. ;) Happy Birthday Samantha!!! I hope you have a very happy day that's filled with family, friends and lots of laughter. Be sure to stop by her blog and leave a sweet birthday wish, she'd love it!  You'll also want to check out Tammy's amazing tutorial over at TTT!

For this challenge I've created a keepsake mini album for my DD featuring my Top Tip which is to save the paper coasters your waiter/waitress gives you next time you dine out. They are useful in crafting and here they've made an excellent base for my "mini" album. Each coaster received a coat of white gesso which gave me a  neutral base to start from. Here's another tip for you, I discovered that the largest circle in the Spellbinders Std. Circles Lg. was the exact diameter of my round coasters which made me happy. :) Here are before and after photos...

various coasters from restaurants

one coat of gesso

For my front cover I used a kaleidoscope accent stencil by Deco Art featuring circles that I got in a mixed media kit a while back. I used bright pink ink then toned the color down with antique linen distress ink. Die #3 from the same Spellbinders die set cut out a round window and I placed a dp behind it and spelled out my daughter's name in alpha's. I trimmed it with ruffled pink ribbon and it adds a feminine touch. A corrugated chipboard bird was painted with white acrylic paint and I added a button & burlap bow. A tag is the perfect spot for my stamped sentiment and tiny hot pink pearls were added for color. Paper flowers, a rhinestone heart and silk ribbon are sweet touches but my fave thing on the cover is the crepe paper ruffle trim. I {heart} this element and can't wait to use more of it on future projects. I cut two long strips and accordion folded it along the perimeter of my circle and used X-Press It tape to keep it where I wanted it. To make it stand out more I used silver stickles which added the perfect finishing touch. Here's a close up of the front and inside cover.

Top Tip Tuesday - All About Circles

Sponsors

Redonkulous Designs - 16,000 Redonkulous Reward Points to

 spend on any mix of Digital Stamps, Papers, and Clip Art. 

Fred She Said - $20 Voucher!

Ooh La La Creations is offering you any 1 of their CD's!

Here are photos of my individual pages...

dp's-5th Avenue by Melissa Frances

dp-Sugar Chic by Heidi Swapp

dp-Amy Tangerine's Sketchbook for American Crafts

dp's-Annalee by Prima

dp-Spotted Owl Soup by Jillibean

dp-Little Girl Collection by Echo Park

dp-This & That by Echo Park
(designed by Lori Whitlock)

dp-Be Mine by Echo Park

Phew! Thanks for hanging in there with me today for a super long post. I hope my project will inspire you to create your own coaster "mini" album. ;) This would great to record photos of your children, pet(s), inspirational quotes/Scriptures or your favorite things. You can personalize it to suit your taste and if you decide to make one I'd love it if you dropped me a link to your album so I can take a peek.

I'm linking this project up with Make It Monday Challenge #98, Tuesday Alchemy-Whose Got a Button? challenge and the Old Back Porch-Week 28.

Have fun crafting today & remember to save those coasters! :)
Hugs,
Lisa xx

Note: Verve stamps were used exclusively on these pages and my dies are from Spellbinders and Verve. If you have a question about a product send me an email and I'll be happy to pass the deets along. Please put "Circles" in subject line. Thanks!

Still Crazy about U

A little announcement before I begin....I am one of two new DT members at Top Tip Tuesday! WooHoo!!! I was thrilled to receive an invitation to join the uber talented Design Team at TTT and today officially marks my debut. Thanks again to Carol and Samantha for the invite and the warm welcome by the team. I {heart} you all! Wanna know who the other new DT member is? Jennifer Scull of Just Coffee Please...& Stamps, & Ribbons, & Paper so please check her blog out, you'll be glad you did. On a sad note, Leanne {the founder of TTT} is leaving to pursue other interests and we wish her the very best. Carol & Samantha are the new co-owners and coordinators of TTT so we are all in good hands. :)

1 For the Men-Masculine

 is the theme for our current challenge at TOP TIP TUESDAY and this is my tag featuring my Top Tip-use dies as masks to create depth on your project. I loved making this tag with mix & match fave stamps for my husband. I placed three Spellbinders Sprightly Sprocket dies on my tag and sprayed Adirondack Color Wash-Espresso over everything. Carefully, I lifted the dies and wiped clean. The images that were left created depth to my background and I went over the areas with distress ink to add some *cream* to my tag. I played along with the One Stop Craft Challenge 189-Coffee & Cream where the colors are determined by your favorite flavor of coffee. Cappuccino, espresso, latte, or flavored joe-it's all good! I grew up with my dad drinking black coffee so the black ink is a nod to his fave. :) I'm also linking up with the Make It Monday # 96 linky party.

We certainly hope you can join us this time and show us your take on 1 For the Men-Masculine !

Top Tip Tuesday

Sponsors are:

Simon Says Stamp

Prize: $20 Gift Voucher 

The Crafty Pad Designs

Prize: 2 Digi Images

Thanks so much for visiting and a big welcome to my newest followers! Please visit the Top Tip Tuesday site for more information and for some amazing inspiration from the design team.

Have a terrific week everyone!

Hugs,

Lisa xx

Supplies:

Stamps: Compact Sentiments-Part Two, Vintage Labels 4, & Bitty Banners (WMS); Making a Statement & Wings of Love (Verve)

Ink: Old Paper & Frayed Burlap Distress Ink (T!m Holtz/Ranger), Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: White Lg. Tag & kraft cs(PS); Choice Buttercream (TE)

Accessories: Spellbinders Donna Salazar Sprightly Sprockets dies, Labels Four & Nested Pennants; Wavy Hearts Die Set (Verve); Adirondack Color Wash-Espresso (Ranger); Loops Heart border punch (MS); buttons (Buttons Galore and More); burlap (Canvas Corp.); mocha twill (Maya Road); cream button twine (WMS); black glaze pen (Sakura)   

Happy Father's Day DAD

It's all about DAD this week with Father's Day just around the corner. I used the June SFYTT by Jen del Muro which is a fun sketch to work with. I'm also playing along with two *new to me* challenges, Paper Pal Arts & One Stop Craft Challenge, and the Make It Monday #93 challenge. The color scheme for my card came from PPA's challenge which required us to use a red, blue and white theme. The One Stop Craft Challenge is perfect for those making Father's Day cards because the challenge this week is {surprise} Father's Day. Here's Jen's Sketch For You To Try for June 2012 and you can enter anytime during the current month if you'd like to play along.

I embossed the blue panel with a Stars Impression Plate by Taylored Expressions and die cut a Die-namics Solid Bracket Border by My Favorite Things in red to add a pop of color. The Standard Circle Lg. dies by Spellbinders provide a backdrop for my main image and Father's Day sentiment while a Verve Charming Oval Die completes my sketch requirements. The sentiments are also from Verve and I used Dad's Day & World's Best while the main stamped image is from Wild West by T!m Holtz for Stampers Anonymous. Staz On's Azure Blue ink was used exclusively and red satin ribbon, white brads, red pearls and a blue star complete this card and my Father's Day cards for 2012.

Thanks for taking a look today and can you believe this is my second post today. It was actually suppose to be my first post but so much for scheduled posting. Hmmm...
Have a great day and hats off {pun intended} to all those wonderful father's out there.
God Bless You!
~Lisa

Extra's: blue star (Bo Bunny-Block Party Buttons); white brads (PS); red pearls (Kaisercraft); red satin ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

I'm So Glad You're My...

This card is for my sweetie and I truly am glad he's my husband and the father of our two children. When I saw the colors for the new CR84FN56 Color Challenge I instantly thought of Authentique's Blissful Collection. The challenge colors of yellow, gray and a neutral work perfectly with these dp's and I gravitate toward geometric patterns for some reason. It's certainly not from a love of mathematics I can tell you! I've been branching out with new challenges lately and the challenge at Our Creative Corner  caught my attention. The challenge is to use our favorite T!m Holtz technique and I've been wanting to make his tissue tape flower for a while, so I did, and you can view his video here {last one}. Since my DH is an engineer I placed a sprocket gear from T!m's idea-ology line in the center and a black Kaisercraft pearl to finish it off. I did not use a sketch but formulated my own design and any reference to a sketch 'out there' is purely coincidental. The third challenge I'm participating in is the Make It Monday #93 Challenge where all creations are welcome. Here's the yummy beautiful inspiration photo from the CR84FN56 Color Challenge and there's plenty of time to play along with all three challenges.

Thanks for spending some of your day with me and I hope you have a fantastic week!

~Lisa

Supplies:
Stamps: Father Figure, Tag Time & Swirling Hearts (Verve)
Ink: Memento's Tuxedo Black & London Fog, ColorBox Petal Point Chalk Ink-Yellow Citrus
Paper: Authentique's Blissful Collection, Choice Snow White (TE), black cs (Bazzill Basics)
Accessories: Classic Squares Lg. (Spellbinders); Tissue Tape-Sketchbook & sprocket gears (T!m Holtz/idea-ology); 1" circle punch (Fiskars); black pearl (Kaisercraft); Arch Lattice Edger Punch (MS); Tiny Sweet Scallop Die Set (Verve); brads (PS); yellow trim (Hobby Lobby); Inkssentials blending tool & Silver Pearl Liquid Pearls (Ranger)

VLV Feb Sketch-Week 1

Hi there and no you are NOT seeing things, this is my second post today after an impromptu blog break. I am playing "catch up" and nearly passed out when I realized that Valentine's Day is tomorrow. I am feverishly making cards for my immediate family and the weekly Viva la Verve sketches are perfect for jump starting my mojo. Here's Amber's fabulous sketch and I love the horizontal layout with the three panels. It seemed the perfect fit for a masculine card and I'm including a snap of the inside of my card as well because I truly am *twitterpated* about the awesome stamps that Verve released in January (hubby too!).

I am partial to this card because it is for my main squeeze, my darling husband, and I can hardly believe we are approaching our 26th wedding anniversary in May. Our love has grown over the years and I cherish the commitment we made to one another the day we married, it is priceless. Over the years he has shown his love for me through the traditional gifts of flowers, romantic dinners and keepsake gifts but it is the past two years that have made me love him more. My parents have experienced some "hurdles" concerning their health, both mentally and physically and recently we had to move my Dad in with us. He never hesitated but supported me in this endeavor all the way. There's been some tough days but we've gotten through them together and if it is possible I truly love him more today than the day I married him. I'm a lucky girl!

I'll be back tomorrow with one more Valentine card and a fun project that I made for my husband and children. See ya soon!
~Lisa

Stamps: Twitterpated, Heart's Desire & Love Notes (Verve)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Antique Linen Distress Ink (T!m Holtz)
Paper: Circa 1934 (Cosmo Cricket), kraft, red and tan cs
Accessories: Jotted Heart Die & Wavy Hearts Die Set (Verve); Layering Doily Medium (Taylored Expressions); Nested Lacey Pennants-flag die (Spellbinders); Prima Musical Pebble; black crochet trim (Hobby Lobby); black pearls (Kaisercraft); 3D foam dots (Therm O'Web)