Son...

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!! Today we are celebrating our son's graduation from Basic Combat Training in the U. S. Army at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. It has been two and a half months since he left home and yesterday we were privileged to spend quality time with him during Family Day. He'll leave Saturday morning headed to San Antonio, Texas where he will complete his Advanced Individual Training and become a Biomedical Equipment Specialist. Next May he will graduate AIT and from there we are not sure where he will be stationed or deployed. One thing is for certain though, he has a bright future ahead of him and we are honored to be his parents.

I used the Deconstructed Sketch No. 57 for inspiration and I'm also entering this in the Make It Monday No. 95 linky party & The Kraft Journal: Anything Goes challenge.

Here's a photo of the inside using three different stamps to convey our message to him.

Hope each of you have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by today!
Hugs,
Lisa xx

Supplies:
Stamps: Compact Family  & Vintage Labels 18 (WMS), Small Phrases (Verve), Greetings (TCP Studio)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Noir Patterned Argyle/Paper Reverie (Making Memories), Whipped Mousse (Bazzill Basics)
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 18 die #3; French Scroll border punch (MS); diamond ribbon (Michael's); Platinum Liquid Pearls (Ranger); 3D Foam Dots (Therm O Web)

Precious Memories

Hi there, I'm back with a mixed media journal page I created for the current Our Creative Corner : '10' Challenge and I'm also playing along with the MIM #95 Linky Party where anything goes. OCC's DT member, Kristin, challenged us to create something with the #10 on it or to use ten of the same items. I chose to use ten wood die-cuts on this page and for good measure I stamped No. 10 in the lower right corner. It was fun to create and the photo gives it a scrapped feel as well. Here's how I made it along with a few close ups.

I used a *new to me* technique that I found on a recent Inspiration Wednesday video by Donna Downey featuring transfer images, computer copy paper, gesso and gel medium. It worked like a charm and she included a link to download the butterfly sheet that you see in the background of my page. To add some overall color I sprayed Mister Huey's Forever Blue in random spots and added texture through bubble wrap, stamps, rub ons, tissue tape, dimensionals and acrylic paint. I painted all of the wood die-cut pieces with a base coat of acrylic paint and 'dance' received a second coat of picket fence crackle paint. Mister Huey's Pretty Pink color mist was sponged randomly on the letters and adds a pop of color. The small butterflies were dusted with pinkie fairy dust to make them sparkle and pearls add a touch of elegance. A magnetic date stamp records the date of my daughter's ballet recital on a distressed tag. Lace & a punched border help anchor the photo of my little ballerina to the page. A handmade chiffon flower was made using a tutorial by Mona Pendleton at Cupcake's Creations and I added a blue brad to the center. A fun little flower to make and I hope you'll check out both the video and tutorial for some crafty fun. :)

Welcome to my new followers and as always I truly appreciate the support and encouragement your comments give me. They make my day! Thanks for stopping by and hope everyone is having a great week.
~Lisa xx

Supplies:
Strathmore Visual Journal; Butterfly Download Sheet (Donna Downey); Antique White & White Acrylic Paint (Apple Barrel); Baby Pink Acrylic Paint (Folk Art); Mister Huey's Forever Blue & Pretty Pink Color Mists; Distress Crackle Paint-Picket Fence, Antique Linen & Black Soot Distress Ink (T!m Holtz/Ranger); Pinkie Fairy Dust (Sulyn Industries); Studio Calico Die-Cut Wood Butterflies; Expressions Wood Shop-Timber (Pink Paislee); Tissue Tape-Sketchbook (T!m Holtz/Advantus); MS Swirling Lace Border Punch; 2MM White Pearls (PS); Numero Clear Stamps (7 gypsies); Magnetic Date Stamp (Making Memories); blue brad (MME-Market Street)

I've been thinking about you

Hello and welcome! I totally meant to post this yesterday but this week has taken twists and turns of its own beyond my control. So here I am on the final day with my entry for Our Creative Corner-Button 'n Burlap or Bows challenge and I'm using Card Patterns Sketch # 169 for inspiration. I also plan to link up with Make It Monday #94 where anything goes. Here's a little close up of my challenge requirements.

This card is for my mom and I've been thinking about her lately. :) She loves flowers so I used Authentiques's Gathering dp's to put this little number together. Per the OCC challenge requirements we had to use buttons, burlap or bows. Even though my card is relatively small, 4x6, I found a way to include all three which made me happy. The burlap anchors my orange twill ribbon and the button & burlap bow draw the eye to my sentiment banner. I did not want to compete with the beautiful floral dp so I die cut two rosettes from a coordinating dp and anchored it with the smaller rosette {which was not accordion folded} and placed a teal pearl to add a pop of color. The base is bittersweet chocolate and I've been thinking about chocolate chip cookies ever since so I think I'll go now and whip up a batch.

Thanks for stopping by and hurry if you want to play with the OCC challenge and the sketch.
Have a great weekend everyone,
Lisa

Supplies:
Stamps: Small Phrases (Verve)
Ink: Walnut Stain Distress Ink (T!m Holtz/Ranger)
Paper: Gathering (Authentique), bittersweet chocolate cs (Bazzill)
Accessories: Easy Rosettes 017 die (The Cat's Pajamas); Nested Pennants die (Spellbinders) burlap (Jo-Ann's); orange twill ribbon (TE); brown burlap string (WMS); orange vintage style button (Jenni Bowlin); teal pearl (Kaisercraft); 3D foam dots (Therm O Web)

Happy 4th of July USA

Hello and welcome! In the U. S. Independence Day is just around the corner and several challenges are honoring it through our country's colors, our flag {stars & stripes} or the holiday itself. So naturally I played along with Tip Top Tuesday's #79 and Just Us Girls #141 challenges to express my patriotism. My sketch inspiration comes from the one and only, Jen Shults, and her sketches are always a challenge {that's why I love them!}. You can see the current Deconstructed Sketch #56 plus visit the archives for past sketch inspiration. I believe most of them are open to link throughout the year so it's not too late. The Crafty Catz #137 Embossing was great to play with because it gave me another opportunity to use my Stars Impression Plate by Taylored Expressions to emboss my vertical navy panel.

The colors of red, white and blue were established by the JUGS challenge and Independence Day or Stars & Stripes were challenge requirements of Tip Top Tuesday. I incorporated both on the TTT challenge and my stripes are represented by the red/white twine. The patriotic banner in the 4th of July Wreath set make my Picket Fence Border Die look festive. I punched three .5" circles using an EK Success punch and stamped the letters USA from You're My Type-Upper. Blue stars were strung onto red burlap string and red liquid pearls add another pop of color and visual interest. White brads anchor the four chomped corners and finish it off nicely.

Here's a Top Tip for you, to center your sentiments it is helpful to use a grid acrylic block and place all of the stamps & embellishments on it so you know everything will be centered properly. Also, It is much easier to stamp after punching but before when using a die. It just makes life easier! Another thing I did was to stamp my banners in blue ink so it would blend better. Seasoned stampers know this already but maybe it will help a newbie out there. :)

I'd like to welcome my newest blog followers and thank everyone for their encouraging comments. BTW, most of my recent posts have been CAS due to Father's Day and recent masculine birthdays but I'm happy to report that some "girl stuff" is on the way. :) Have a swell hump day {a.k.a. Wednesday}!

Note: I "Caught Their Eye" at Top Tip Tuesday with this Stars & Stripes card. WooHoo!
~Lisa

Supplies:
Ink: Memento Paris Dusk, ColorBox Chalk Ink Lipstick Red
Paper: Choice Snow White (TE), red, blue & white cs (Bazzill Basics)
Accessories: Take Note Frame 3 (TE); We R Memory Keepers 1.5" corner chomper, brads (PS); buttons (Hobby Lobby); red/white twine (Doodlebug); red burlap string (Maya Road); Copics B28 & R29; Ruby Red Liquid Pearls (Ranger)

TE Calendar Challenge-June

Welcome! I'm back today to share my calendar for the Taylored Expressions Calendar Challenge-June and I used the 2012 TE Calendar Download. You can view the current challenge and a recap of the challenge rules if you click on the link above. I'm a big fan of TE's Key Ingredients Kit and I used paper and embellishments from February which featured MME Lost & Found Rosy. The kits make it a breeze to put a card, or any project, together quickly.

One lone flower is all the stamping I did and it's from TE's Friendship Blooms which I die cut with the coordinating die. The satin ribbon and lush pearl were part of the kit which made life easy for me.

Thanks for dropping by today, hope everyone has a great week!
~Lisa

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)

World's Best Father

Welcome! I have a confession to make-at first I was a little intimidated by this sketch and I passed it over. However, it intrigued me and I just decided to go for it. I'm glad I did because it has become one of my favorites now and the possibilities are endless. It really is all about perspective! The sketch is by the uber talented Karan Gerber at Cardabilites and I made this card for my FIL.

For color inspiration I played with the current Colour Q #141 Challenge and here's our inspiration photo.

Great colors for Father's Day! Speaking of Father's Day I am entering this card in the One Stop Craft Challenge-Father's Day and it will close in two days so hurry and link up. ;) I found a dp in the Tradewinds stack by DCWV that was nautical and it featured two of the challenge colors, navy & brocade blue, which left me to find lime and bashful blue. I spotted the Cas-ual Friday's Challenge #56 which required us to use Polka Dots {enter lucky limeade} and a bashful blue dp from MME rounded out my fourth color. The color white was used for my die cut panel and I sponged it with Shabby Shutters Distress Ink to add visual interest. Then I stamped the bass image in Stormy Sky Distress Ink and World's Best FATHER was stamped in Memento Paris Dusk. I brought out my Copic markers to customize my pearl embellishments which completed it.

Thanks for taking a peek and I am always uplifted by your encouraging comments. I also want to welcome my newest followers to my blog and I hope you find some inspiration here. If you are looking for a challenge check out my Challenges page where I've linked up a *few* for you and they are sorted by category. :-)

Have a wonderful day, wherever you are!

~Lisa

Stamps: White Bass (Stampabilities), World's Best Father (Verve)

Paper: polka dot (Little Boy Collection/Echo Park), bashful blue (On the Bright Side-One/MME)

Accessories: Long Cl. Rectangles (Spellbinders); Die-namics File Tab (MFT); Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers); Copics B37 & BG 72; white pearls (PS)