CPS # 44

Hello everyone! I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted. We had a crazy week leading up to Christmas... and I feel like I'm just now recovering! I did take a little time yesterday to stamp.

I'd seen this sketch ---> Click here to see the original sketch <--- on the CPS blog and it stuck in my mind when I went to create. I HAD to use it!

The stamps I used to make both of these cards are from Gina K's "Let It Snow" set.

The card base is Soft Sky with Dasher Basic Grey paper as the central matte. I used my Petite Scallop Circle and Classic circle Nestabilities to create the ring. It was SO easy. I lined them up on the magnetic placement mat, added the paper on top, and ran the sandwich through my Cuttlebug. It was perfect!

The main image was stamped and colored with Copic markers. I dotted three different grey markers and a tan marker to give the illusion that it's a stone house. I airbrushed the sky with a light blue. I need much more practice with this tool... I'm always so spotty or heavy-handed. I'll get there eventually.

Here's a close up of this first card. I added a bit of Ranger Liquid Pearls (White Opal) in dots to the scallops. The texture is so pretty in real life. A swatch of ribbon, a bar staple and some Water colored Dew Drops finished this card.

This next card was a quick Take 2 of the CPS Sketch... since I already had the paper cut and the matte circle from the ring cut above. I didn't see the reason to waste it. I'll save these for next year's holiday cards.

The difference in the main image is that I sponged ink for the sky and added Ranger Liquid Pearls to the roof and hill. Oh and I added a spiral clip to tie in the circular theme of the main image, the snowflake Basic Grey paper, and the Dew Drops.

Thanks for hanging with me! I promise to have more soon!

Lise

TK Christmas

First of all, I apologize for being a bad blogger... between work and all the holiday preparations... it's a wonder I'm standing! LOL! But I think we can all make that claim, can't we?

I thought I'd share this quick Christmas card with you tonight. I had stamped the Silent Night Vignette during Lisa Strahl's birthday bash earlier this month and hadn't used it. Rather than scrap a perfectly good image, I thought I'd put together a quick card.

The image is stamped on shimmery white cardstock - in navy ink. The image is matted on navy cardstock. I stamped the Paisley backgrounder on the top half of the white cardstock and the medium blue card base. I stamped the sentiment by CHF (Christmas Love) on the unstamped portion of the white panel. The only embellishment was the stitching around the main image with white thread.

I really love the monochromatic theme - which gives a peaceful, serene tone to the piece. And it's easy! Only one color in the scheme. Very little worries there!

Sorry for the fast post. I'll add recipe details later when I'm awake.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa

Snow Place Like the USA

I'm not quite certain how I arrived at this idea when I saw the America the Beautiful set. I had Asela's snowman from the November Stamp of the Month on my work table and thought it would be interesting to try to put something else in his twig hand... why not a flag?

Snow Place Like the USA

To do this, I used a little bit of scotch tape to cover the star and string he's holding. I removed the tape and stamped on cardstock. To give him the flag in his twig hand, I added tape to the flag from the America the Beautiful set to cover the flagpole (it was just a little too thick for this image - looked like it would knock the snowman over - LOL). I used a micron pen to draw it in the right proportions and fix the flag.

Once I colored the image, I added glimmer with the Spica glitter pens and some snow from Liquid Applique.After that, I needed a sentiment to match. The "snow place like the" is computer generated. I inked the USA with markers, kissed off some of the ink with the small stars in the set, and stamped under the computer words. It's popped out with the Key Tag punch (EK Success). I added a bit of glimmer to the stars with the matching Spica glitter pens.

I really enjoyed putting these seemingly at odds sets (snowman and summer) to make a fun holiday card.

Thanks for looking,

Lisa

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Supplies:

Stamps: America the Beautiful, Snowflake and November SOTM Snowman with Star

Paper: Red, Bright Blue, White, Black

Ink: Red, Bright Blue, Black, white craft ink for snowflakes (background stamped)

Embellishments: Micron black pen, scotch tape, key tag punch, dimensional tape, Copic markers, Spica glitter pens, ribbon, Liquid Applique, computer/printer for sentiment

Melancholy Blue

Oh to be young and in love... hmmm... Something about those first days of tenderness. I thought I'd share this card with you about this sweet girl - with the image from a new Flourishes set. The set is called Open to Love.

Melancholy BlueI used the pretty young girl from the set and stamped her on white cardstock. I stamped her on a scrap of designer paper from the Basic Grey Lilykate line and paper pieced to give her a pretty top. I stamped the arch on some Lilykate paper and placed my girl in between the scallop paper and arch to give the illusion of a girl leaning against the windowsill, waiting for her boy.

Some additional details are the stitching around the designer paper panel, custom colored dew drops, a neutral button and a couple of custom paper buttons (cardstock covered in Ranger Glossy Accents).

I don't know about you but I hope her prince comes home soon!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

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Supplies:

Stamps: Open to Love

Paper: Bordering Blue and Chocolate Chip by Stampin' Up, LilyKate by Basic Grey, White Georgia Pacific

Ink: Bordering Blue by SU, Ranger Pitch Black

Embellishments: sewing machine and thread, dew drops, Copic markers, neutral button, linen thread, May Arts wrinkled blue ribbon

Enabling Post!

Cornish Heritage Farms proudly presents the latest release of Kim Hughes sets... drum roll please...
Quirky Alphabet:

Pet-Tootie Sentiments:
Say What?!:
Hugs and Kisses:
Bloomin' Beautiful:

America the Beautiful:
Send Santa to CHF to get your favorite sets! I've already sent my wish list to him for those last minute stocking stuffers... ;-)

I have another card I'd like to share with you that uses America the Beautiful... later this week.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa

Back to Your Regularly Scheduled Holiday...

I hope you didn't mind the break from holiday cards. It can be overwhelming to create Christmas cards on a TIGHT deadline. And, being the classic overachiever that I am, I must finish. Not sending cards isn't an option for me.

A few things that I do to make life simple:

1. Create mailing labels for all my family and friends. It only takes the investment of time once to create a database of the addresses.


2. Determine which cards are going to get a personal letter or handwritten note and which ones are going to just be signed with your name and best wishes. This creates a "fast" and "slow" pile. Get the bulk of the cards done quickly and you'll feel a sense of accomplishment.


3. Make simpler cards. I know... it's tempting to make that really knock-out, kicked up card to impress your family and friends. But remember, not everyone saves every card sent to them. I know... let the shock of it absorb for a second. Breathe in, breathe out. OK, better now? The truth of the matter is that friends will just be amazed you sent them - in the age of emails and e-cards. Keep it simple.

So, with those thoughts / ramblings on Christmas cards, I'll share with you a really quick card:

The elements of this card that make it fast are the designer paper (Blitzen Basic Grey), punches or dies that make the central image pop, and an embellishment like ribbon (cut for many once you've determined the length needed). When I made a stack of cards using this three step image from Kitchen Sink Stamps, I lined up each step image on their own acrylic blocks next to their ink color. I was able to do a production line operation with a complex-looking image... and no one will be the wiser!

In this card, I've kicked it up a bit, without adding much to the time invested in the project. I used my new Copic marker airbrush system that I bought from Ellen Hutson LLC. This was a first attempt for me, so it's a tad blotchy... but oh, so cool. And FAST! I also added some of the clear Dew Drops I bought from Ellen and colored the backs with my Copic so they would match the paper perfectly. I love those darn things!

The last piece was to add the sentiment, which highlights two of the words in the Never a Loss 4 Words set by Kitchen Sink Stamps. Great variety of words to select...

I hope this helps someone... but now, I'm off to make more Christmas cards! Yikes!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

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Supplies:

Stamps: 3-Step Holly & Mistletoe by Kitchen Sink Stamps and Never a Loss 4 Words set by Kitchen Sink Stamps.

Paper: Blitzen Basic Grey, Old Olive cardstock, Shimmery white, Cranberry Crisp (retired SU), Creamy Caramel

Ink: Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Cranberry Crisp, Stazon Timber Brown

Embellishments: Dew Drops, stitched ribbon, Copic airbrush system

Celebrate Freedom

This was a fun, fast project... I had some graph paper sitting on my desk and just started using the sentiments in the America the Beautiful set to list the things we should Celebrate. It was a really quick card... but I liked the effect - like I was doodling in class, when I should have been taking notes.

Mom - Because I know you read this... I always paid attention in class. That was hypothetically speaking.

LOL! And if you believe that...




Thanks for looking,

Lisa

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Supplies:

Stamps: America the Beautiful (from the Kim Hughes Collection at Cornish Heritage Farms)

Paper: Bright Blue, White, white graph paper (regular tablet - not cardstock).

Ink: Red, Bright Blue, Black, Yellow

Embellishments: ribbon and spiral edge punch by EK Success

Something a little different...

With the peak I gave you of one of the new Kim Hughes releases at Cornish Heritage Farms a few days ago, I thought I'd show you a card I did that uses one of the images from the set in a different way.

Wish on a Fluff:

The set is called America the Beautiful. It has the exploding firework image... but it really looked like I could use it for dandelion fluffs. So... on shimmery white cardstock, I stamped the firework in versamark, drew in the stems with a versamark pen and added a quick fly-away fluff off to one side. I embossed this in clear and inked with Aqua Ranger Adirondack ink to highlight. I used the same Aqua ink to ink the End Diamond Backgrounder on the card base.

I also stitched a bit with my new Janome Sew mini (Ms. Jody is such a good enabler! *grin*). It was a first for me with the machine, so it's not the best... OK, in places it looks downright drunken, but I know how sweet ya'll are and will kindly overlook it, right? Whew!

I added a quick sentiment of "wishes" from the Best Wishes in the Tag! You're It set from CHF. A matte of black cardstock completes the central image.

Keeping with the diamond theme, I lightly sanded a clear button, stamped the Petite Pattern Backgrounder on the button in versamark and clear embossed. To give it a bit of pop, I added a circle of turquoise paper underneath.

Here's a close-up of the button:

So... I was really excited about this card... a unique and different perspective of an image... and then my 6 year-old son said, "Mom! I love the fireworks!" Ugh! Out of mouths of babes. And he's right, it is a firework. Silly me!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

Flourishes, LLC

I am SO thrilled to have been asked to be a part of Flourishes Invitational Guest Designer program! I'll be working with them December through February and I understand that a new designer will be added each month. What an honor!

New sets are pending release on December 11th, so I'd like to share with you my first project.

The set is called Love Nest and is darling.

I had been given a large bag of these clear plastic boxes by my Grandma about a week ago. I think they were media cases originally. Being the stamping / collecting type person that I am, I knew I'd NEED them and brought them home to add to my hoard... I mean stash... I mean alterable collection. LOL! I added a bit of paper to the front of the case, inside the unique shape. I added the sentiment (also from this set) inside some WeR Precious Metals hardware. I love the fact that the case is frosted plastic, so I can see a hint of the cards inside.

I created three unique note cards (4" squares) for the gift set, using pink cardstock, Phoebe Basic Grey designer paper, more hardware and matching May Arts grosgrain ribbons. I kept each simple, without a sentiment on the outside, so someone can write their own love note.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

Switching Gears

While most of us are thinking of holiday preparations, I'm going to switch things up for you a bit. I have a preview of one of Cornish Heritage Farms new releases from the Kim Hughes Collection... due out soon.

This set, called America the Beautiful, is really wonderful. This first card is the one "traditional" card I created with it... and I'll post a couple more that I've done in the next few days. The card base is red, with a matte of Kraft cardstock. I used all the wonderful sentiments to create a unique background, stamping the small star as a spacer between words. I offset the central image so I wouldn't cover the background... I really liked how it came out.

One of the benefits of the set is that it's unmounted. I trimmed the sentiments closely and in straight cuts. When lining up each of the words for this background, it was really easy to see, so the words were evenly spaced and straight.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

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Supplies:

Stamps: America the Beautiful

Paper: Red, Bright Blue, White, Kraft

Ink: Red, Bright Blue, Black, Tan

Embellishments: ribbon and dimensional tape

So... What's going on in the Kitchen?

If you answer the question literally at my house, not a thing! I did so much stamping this weekend that I managed to talk my husband into dinner out. SWEET!

But seriously, Kitchen Sink Stamps is releasing 4 new sets December 3 (tomorrow!!!) that are really wonderful.


Happy Birthday Cupcake set is one of the new sets. I made a card and a matching gift tag today and chose a more masculine color scheme to it.

Denim Wishes:
The large circle in the set was used to make the background paper - a tone on tone stamping of Brocade Blue. I stamped the large cupcake and colored in blue and red. With the small sentiment in the set, I rimmed the main image, adding a dot of red glitter between phrases. It came together really fast... something I love.

The tag has the same color scheme:To achieve the dome topped tag, I used my trusty Coluzzle and oval template. Love that thing! The same layout was used, the only difference is that the central image is the circular cupcake image. My son told me he liked the colors... and asked if I could save this for his birthday next year. Hmmmm... I'm sure I can do that.

Check in at Kitchen Sink Stamps tomorrow for the new sets. Keep your eyes peeled for a banner ad at Splitcoaststampers... could mean savings for you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa

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Supplies:

Stamps: Happy Birthday Cupcake

Paper: White, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Real Red

Ink: Pitch Black and Brocade Blue

Accessories: Coluzzle oval template and blade, Large eyelet, red and navy grosgrain and gingham ribbons, Copic markers, Spica glitter pens, staple.

New CHF Backgrounders

So... I literally stamped all day for Lisa Strahl's birthday bash at Cornish Heritage Farms Forums, which was also the date of release for 16 new Backgrounders - all Lisa's designs. I think I finished 9 or 10 projects in total. Quite a feat! I had SO much fun. The challenges are still listed in the forum for anyone that is interested in trying. And the gallery is there in case you are looking for inspiration.

One card that I created fell into three of the challenges:

1. Color challenge (cream, light blue and light brown)
2. Limited Supply challenge (use only backgrounders, 1 sentiment and embellishments)
3. Ways to use it challenge - I hosted this one... using Ranger Glossy Accents.

I stamped pieces of background images on Poison Ivory cardstock (End Diamond, Spanish Script and Petite Pattern). I used various sized circle punches to cut out and added button holes. I completely covered the circles with Glossy Accents and let dry. Voila! Faux Buttons! I thought this was really clever! I'd seen something like this when I was shopping at Target, but didn't want to pay $6 for chipboard buttons. I thought I would be able to make my own. And so I did.

If you make some yourself, please stop by and let me know!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

p.s. I'll add notes on supplies when I'm not so wiped! LOL!