Make It Monday #125 with Meljen's Designs



Time for linky party #125 to kick off at Make It Monday! We hope you'll share your creative talent with us this week and be our next featured entry and winning commenter. Our sponsor is Melissa Jenkins of Meljen's Designs and I'm using the Topsy Turvy Cake image on my card. It reminded me of a cake you might see on an episode of The Cake Boss and I love the fun layers and design. A sentiment from Hero Arts's Essential Greetings was also used and I blended Spun Sugar distress ink on the front to tone the white down. A turquoise chevron ribbon, Pixie-Licious button, MS border punch and bling finish it off. I should note that I used atyou Spica glitter pens to highlight this cake (which doesn't translate to a computer screen very well) and the Seeing Dots embossing folder by Cuttlebug for my pink panel. I think that's it. ;)


Here's a look at the inside featuring a dp from Glitz's Cashmere Dame collection.
 

  

 

A stamped sentiment from TCP's Greetings set and inked edges are all that was necessary on the inside. Simple and sweet! 

 

 

 

Pick of TheWeek is....

#5 Jessica Sporn 

 

 

with this fun and colorful city scape!!! 

I love the way she developed her background and the design.

Click her link to see more photos of this incredible piece of art

and leave her some comment love. 

TFS Jessica!

 

 

 

Sponsored by

 

Meljen's Designs Digital Stamps

Prize is winner's choice of 4 single digis!



So happy you stopped by and please click my teamies links on the right sidebar to see their inspiring creations. Have a terrific week everyone and happy crafting!

Hugs,
Lisa

The Squirrel and The Fox Challenge #36

 

Something New is the challenge for the next two weeks at TS&TF and we're proudly sponsored by The Digi Garden. First though, a big congrats to the winner and top three of our Anything Goes challenge! There were so many beautiful entries and it was definitely a popular challenge. :)

 

Sponsor

 

 

 

For my DT card I'm using The Digi Garden's Molly's Valentine Gifts image. I've paired her with dp's from Cosmo Cricket's Pixie-Licious and Basic Grey's Green at Heart collections. She's a cutie, that's for sure. Also, the sentiment is from Verve's Hearts on Fire stamp set and helps me meet my personal goal of using my unmounted stamps in 2013. If you are not sure what I'm talking about read this post here and it will explain everything. A big thank you to my blog buddy, Jeanne, of  A Kept Life for the beautiful Blushing Rose ribbon. It's gorgeous and I love it! A pink Pixie-Licious button, twine, Want 2 Scrap lavender pearls, Lavender Lace Liquid Pearls by Ranger, Prima Fairytale Roses, Recollections resin roses and a MS Lace Heart punched border round out the finishing touches.


 Here's the inside and I've used two more stamps to help me meet my goal. :)



I used lavender pearls to accent the lacey circle die, sentiment
and anchor the corners of my Green at Heart dp. The Heart &
Swirls die is by Verve and the coordinating stamp was inked up in
Worn Lipstick Distress Ink by Ranger. Be Mine is from Verve's
Twitterpated set and Worn Lipstick was used for it as well.

 

To see the inspiration created by my teamies visit The Squirrel and The Fox or click their links on my right sidebar. Ok, now it's your turn to show us your Something New and if you're unsure what qualifies drop by the challenge blog for all the details.

Thanks for dropping by! 

 

Hugs,

Lisa xx

My Heart Belongs to You

Good morning, or afternoon/evening, everyone!

 

I hope you are doing well and that the new year has been good so far. Mine has been a bit hectic and as a result I feel like I'm constantly playing a game of catch up lol. I guess that's to be expected with all the hats I wear but it does get overwhelming sometimes.

 

When Mona Pendleton, owner of the CR84FN Color Challenge announced recently that the challenge is coming to an end with CRFN8470 I was sad but not shocked. I've never been able to fathom how Mona keeps up with everyday life commitments much less her hefty crafty ones too. I will miss this challenge but more importantly I want to see Mona fulfill all of her creative endeavors and understand her need to lighten the load. It was a special moment when she asked me to be her January Guest Designer and I'll always remember my time at CR84FN fondly. Before it wraps officially, I thought I'd sneak this card which I originally created to submit for the CR84FN69 challenge in. I started second guessing myself and made another card so I am sharing it now. You can visit CR84FN69 to see my color choices and here's a little close up.

 

 

 

 

I used a stamp wheel to create the script background and a sentiment from Verve's Love Notes set to convey my message. Both of these stamps will count toward my goal of using my unmounted stamps and stamp wheels in 2013. Dies from MFT, TE and Verve were used and Lavender Lace Liquid Pearls provide the perfect accent. Some gray/white twine wrapped around my panel and tied in a bow put the finishing touch on this card.

 

 

Thanks for visiting me today and please don't be a stranger. You are welcome anytime! Also, if you are unsure what the acronyms mean for the products used click on the Crafty Acronyms page at the top. :)

 

Hugs,

Lisa



Laviously Lucious Layers at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello and welcome, it's time to kick off a new challenge at Top Tip Tuesday and this one is all about layers. Paper, buttons, ribbon/trim, flowers, bling-the more the merrier! A friendly reminder that if you would like to be in the running for our guest designer spot then leave a tip on your blog and put (Tip) beside your name when you link up. Good Luck!

My card features Scene It-Ladybugs digi image by Bugaboo Stamps and I colored it with Copic markers and added a touch of bling to the flower centers. A white gel pen accents the eyes of the cute ladybugs and the large leaves. This image reminds me that spring is just around the corner (sorta) and I'm so ready. To see more fun images drop by their online shop and browse their fantastic selection. There's something for everyone! 

Here's my Tip-to achieve an easy sky background simply stamp (with a blending tool) Tumbled Glass Distress Ink all over. Work quickly and keep it light adding more depth as needed. Note: I always color my image first.



 

My inside sentiment is from Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages and the bling ladybug is by Zva Creative. The red panel was embossed with a Cuttlebug Polka Dots 5x7 embossing folder and the black panel was the negative of my frame die on the front. A white gel pen was used to create the border and I stamped the sentiment on the negative of the smaller frame die (part of the set by Spellbinders) and popped the smaller frame up on foam dots for dimension. I do hope I haven't confused anybody lol.

 

 A big thank you to Bugaboo Stamps for providing the design team with images    

 

 

 

and for offering the winner 7 Digi images of their choice.  



 

 Top Tipper Prize - Fred She Said $20 voucher!

 

 

 Our fabulous January Designer Clarissa wowed us with two amazing creations this month. 
Thank you Clarissa for joining us!  



That's all for me today, glad you dropped by and spent some time with me. I do hope you'll pop by my teamie's blogs to see what they have in store for you. You can view their beautiful work at TTT or click their links on my right sidebar.

Have a wonderful day everyone!
Lisa xx

Make It Monday #124 with Bugaboo Stamps

 

 

Welcome to the new linky party starting at Make It Monday!

 

We're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps this week and I'm using JJ Calendar Months-January for my calendar page. I love this sassy gal and she certainly knows how to have a good time!

 

 

 

 

Bugaboo Stamps is offering a very generous prize of winner's choice of 7 single digi's.

 

 

For my January calendar I also incorporated a calendar stamp from Just Rite Stampers and alpha's from Hampton Art. The calendar was drawn by freehand and I spelled out my sentiment with a Dymo label maker. Easy peasy!

 

 

Pick of the Week

 

#111 Linda R

 

 

I love this tag!!!

Linda is playing along with T!m's 12 Tags of 2013 and this is her January tag. I'd say she's off to a fabulous start. :) Click her link to see more photos and leave her some love.

Thanks for sharing your talent with us at MIM Linda.

 

 

So happy you dropped by and I'm sure my teamies would love for you to visit them too.

 

Hugs,

Lisa xx 

 

 



 

The Kindness of Another

 

 

 

Hello! It is a dreary, rainy day here in the western part of Tennessee where I live and I do hope the weather is better wherever you are. We've had rain for the past week and I am so ready for it to go away lol. On the bright side, we did not get the freezing rain that the weather man said we would. :)

 

I'm back with a thank you card that I made for a business associate of my husband. This particular gentleman learned that my DH wanted to take our son and his new wife (both are in the Army) to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl game in Atlanta on New Year's Eve (hubby & son are huge fans of LSU& our new DIL is a Clemson fan). Before my DH had time to call and buy tickets he received a phone call saying five tickets were on the way via Fed Ex. His associate wanted to treat them (us too) to the game because he appreciates their willingness to serve our country and realizes the sacrifices that they, like so many, make on our behalf every day. That was the inspiration for my patriotic thank you card and I'm using, Rescue Remedies Additions, from Waltzingmouse Stamps to convey our gratitude to him. We had premo seats in the Georgia Dome and were treated like VIP's. One thing is certain, kindness never goes out of style. 

 

For sketch inspiration I played along with Jen's Deconstructed Sketch No. 84 and it's a keeper. One slight change is that I flipped it because I wanted a horizontal orientation instead of vertical. I left the bow, or fussy embellishment, off because this is a masculine card. Otherwise, all the required elements are present. Be sure to check out this sketch and the archived sketches at Deconstructing Jen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Mr. McDonald, for your generosity and also for your service to our country!

 

Hugs,

Lisa xx

 

Use Every Stamp 2013 Challenge

Use Every Stamp 2013 Challenge

 

 

Jeri Parks, founder of My Creative Classroom, is offering a FREE class to help you use the unmounted stamps you have and organize them in 2013. It's a challenge I chose to accept because I have so many stamps that have never seen ink before and that's a shame. While Jeri shares that feeling guilty about the unused stamps you own is a wasted emotion and that it is far better to just start using your stamps, I do feel some guilt lol. That's why I am here today, sharing this information with you in the event you too have stamp guilt and want to do something about it.

 

A few steps and you'll be on your way:

 

1. Click the link under the graphic 

2. Follow the directions in Jeri's post

3. Count your unmounted stamps

4. Set your goal

 

Now for the moment of truth, how many unmounted stamps do I have. I'll fess up in a minute but here's how I categorized my stamps. Note: Foam, alphabet, and number sets are Jeri's exceptions to this challenge so I am following suit as well and not counting them.

 

Full Sets (10+ stamps) 

 

Mini Full Sets (2-9 stamps) 

 

Singles
 

**Stamp Wheels**
 

I initially wasn't going to include this group because several of my wheels have been used but I changed my mind because at least half still have the wrapper on them and that just won't do lol.  

 

 

My unmounted stamp total is 506

Ugh!

18 Stamp Wheels

373 Full & Mini-Full Sets

115 Singles

 

I know :(  and now you see why I choose to participate in this challenge. While my total is higher than Jeri's count of 316 it is lower than some of you out there. ;) Seriously, how am I going to use all of these stamps? I am committing to use at least one stamp from every mini full set, two from my full sets and all of my singles & stamp wheels. Whew! So how is that possible, here's a few of my ideas for completing my task goal. :)

 

Cards

Scrapbook Layout's

Mini Albums

Mini Books

Art Journal pages

Mixed Media Art projects

Altered Art projects

etc.

 

 

Okay, there's my plan and I can always use more than the specified stamps from each set if I want to but I'll be doing well to use what I committed to. It's important to remember that this is your own personal goal-it's not meant to be rigid but fun. One more thing, the challenge officially kicks off today but I am starting from January 1st because I've already made two mini books using a lot of stamps and every stamp counts. A notebook will help me keep track of what I use along the way and I'll have pages labeled for each company's stamps. That way I can quickly record the stamp and I plan to place a dot label on the stamp package when I use the required number from each set/stamp wheel. If you come up with a better system please feel free to share with me. :-)

 

So, why did I write all this in a post? Your chances of completing a goal vastly improve if you write it down. Yep, it's true! So I not only wrote it down in my journal, I decided to make it official by blogging about it. By doing that, it brings in accountability on my part and hopefully I will be able to mark this goal accomplished on December 31st.

 

Thanks for dropping by today and I hope you'll check in tomorrow to see the thank you card I created for a very special person.

 

Happy Stamping Everyone!

 

Hugs,

Lisa xx