Charmed!

I had the Kitchen Sink Playful Alphabet on my work desk and thought I'd try something different. I found my shrink film (which to be honest, took me longer than the project itself... my room is a mess).

I stamped the image with Black Stazon on the shrink film (this is a matte / opaque film, but you could use a clear). I punched each image out with a different shape punch... the heart was perfect for the designer label punch by Stampin Up, a circle for the "r" and the key tag punch for the "j". I added a hole at the top of each.

To shrink, I do it the easy way. I put my piercing tool in the hole on the top (you must do this before you shrink), and gently heat with my heat gun. I have an old acrylic block handy to flatten, in case an edge curls. And that's all it takes! No fussing with the oven.

The challenge for me was how to color the image. Since I used Stazon and still wanted the detail of the stamped image to shine through, I needed to use something that wouldn't smear or compete. Watercolor markers will wipe off without "sticking". Copics or Sharpies will smear the Stazon. And then the lightbulb moment... Pearl-ex and wax. You know you've got Future Floor wax and Pearl-ex in your stamping room. Admit it! I needed something that wasn't water soluble or alcohol based - so the Pearl-ex and wax is a perfect fit!

I painted the images with a bit of Pearl-ex and gently heated again to set. It's just that simple.

I think these charms will make a great addition to a card or as a gift itself. I have a friend that I know collects cell phone charms... so one is going to her right away.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

Can you believe that Mardi Gras is just around the corner? Easter is on the calendar early this year... and I knew that. I'm just amazed at how fast the year is marching along!

And speaking of marching, have you ever seen a parade in New Orleans? I have. In fact, it was in early May (well after Easter). I was in New Orleans (pre-Katrina) on business and found that traffic was stopped for some reason. It was a parade. Very random... for no other reason than to celebrate a sunny day in Spring. That was a true example of "joie de vivre" - Joy of Life!


Here's a card I created to herald Mardi Gras:

I stamped the new Flourishes Harlequin and Accessories and the Mardi Gras sets. I used the traditional colors of Mardi Gras:

* Purple (for Justice) - Elegant Eggplant

* Gold (for Power) - Summer Sun

* Green (for Faith) - Garden Green

Of course, the phrase "Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler" means Let the Good Times Roll... what else would you expect to say when your leading a parade?

I've been honored to be a Guest Designer for Flourishes since December. The Flourishes Newsletter blog has a spotlight on me today, if you're so inclined to read it.... HERE.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

Another Rummage Bin project

I can't even begin to contain my excitement about the new stamp sets available at Cornish Heritage Farm, by the talented very artist, Lesley Langdon. The images are SO unique! I know I'm gushing a bit, but in a very tough industry with the level of artists designing stamp lines, Lesley has envisioned something completely new. And for that, I'm blown away!!!

This set is one of Lesley's - Primitive Beginnings.

Aren't they amazing images? This project uses several of them:
I bought a few shadow boxes at the dollar store. The whole thing was painted in a buttermilk acrylic paint. The top of the frame has an added layer of Antique Linen crackle paint and a rubbing of Black Soot Distress ink.

The insert to the shadow box was stamped in Adirondack Pitch Black and colored with Copic markers. I kept this intentionally simple (single layer, single colors).

The only kicked up detail is the liquid applique on our little sheep (for his fluffy wool) and a bit of Glossy Accents in the windows for the sheets of glass.

I hope you like this project! I loved putting it together. If you create something "out of the box" with this set, I'd love to see it. Post it back here and let me know.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa
----------------------------------
Supplies:

Stamps: Primitive Beginnings
Paper: Poison Ivory
Ink: Pitch black, black soot, brushed corduroy, Copic markers
Other: Shadow box (from Dollar Store), buttermilk acrylic paint, Antique Linen Distress Crackle paint, dimensional tape, foam brush, liquid applique, glossy accents (for windows)

Falling in Love with The Rummage Bin

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this release. Lesley Langdon (Designer and Artist) and Cornish Heritage Farms has outdone themselves with their latest delivery of amazing new stamps.


The sets are images that work well for scrapbooking and card / paper-crafting. And they are SO unique. I haven't seen anything like it before. There are sets to celebrate the men in your life, the time we have together and beauty...


Click HERE if you'd like to see all the sets. I'd add them here, but there are 10 in the release! There are also wonderful samples in the gallery at CHF to inspire and amaze you --- my friends at CHF are so talented---> HERE.


I'd love to be able to tell you what my favorite set is... but I couldn't even begin to choose. They are ALL amazing. I've enjoyed creating with them and can see I'll reach for them a lot. With all that said, I'd like to share a project made with Lesley's set:



Happy Fall:

This was a quick card using two of Lesley's sets (The Great Canadian Stamp Set and So Happy). I thought I'd post this card to show you don't have to be North of the border to love the Great Canadian set... it's wonderful! Seasons, general titles, and themes we all will use are a cornerstone of the set.

I created a spectrum ink pad with Adirondack reinkers and Ranger Cut & Dry Foam. This is such an awesome use for this product (one of many).

I have a ton more projects to share with you over the next week with The Rummage Bin sets. I'll be back soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa

-------------

Supplies:

Stamps:

-The Great Canadian Stamp Set (The Rummage Bin) by Cornish Heritage Farms

-"Happy" from the So Happy stamp set (The Rummage Bin) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink:

-Red Pepper, Terra Cotta, Caramel reinkers Adirondack Dye inks by Ranger

-Espresso Adirondack Dye inks by Ranger

-Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink by Ranger

Cardstock:

-Poison Ivory shimmery cream cardstock

-Blush Red, Suade Brown Dark and Papaya Puree Medium by Prism

Tools:

-brayer

-Cut & Dry Foam by Ranger

Accessories: -copper brads by WeR Memory Keepers

Something big!

I don't know if you're like me... I enjoy watching the trends in paper crafting. Some I've embraced whole-heartedly. And others, I've either avoided because they are not my style or I knew it was a passing thing (I don't think consider myself a fad-chaser). AND... I love new stamps.

I am so excited that it's release day at Cornish Heritage Farms. This week is MANIA at CHF. There are three releases and each will knock your socks off. The sets are fresh and new and interesting... trend-setting!

The first release of the week is for the Kim Hughes Collection.

Silhouette Blooms II




Foursquare



These sets pair with the other Kim Hughes stamp sets perfectly! I did a quick card last night with both sets together!


Window with a View:

I love the fact the versatility of the small square images - used as a frame in this case, but you could use to journal on a scrap page, highlight an embossed area of your card... limitless!

Thanks for stopping by! I'll have more release info for you as the week progresses! Stay warm,
Lisa

------------------------
Supplies:
stamps: Silhouette Blooms II, Foursquare, Lined Paper BG
Paper: All Prism - Classic Red, Sunflowers Med, Shimmery white
Ink: All Adirondack- Lettuce, red pepper, pitch black
Other; dimensional tape, red dotted May Arts Ribbon, 1-1/4" circle punch

Football Fun

I couldn't resist sharing this with you. It's a design that I'd sent to Ms. Gina for the January projects she's posted on her Guest Designer site.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

I have to give my mom credit for the idea of a football shaped card. So clever of her, don't you think?!?!? To create the shape, I sketched with a scoring tool the amount I'd need to remove from one corner. I cut this out and used as a template to remove the same amount from the others. I used my son's football as guidance on the stitching and markings. The 'ah-ha' moment for me was using the mesh cuttlebug folder, since it makes the texture of the card match the real deal.

For the inside, I layered the card with a green field, scored the yard lines and used a white gel pen to add the "chalk" and numbers.

Here's a close up of the invite itself. I computer generated the Time, Place, etc. and stamped the other fun stuff on the card. One tidbit that you can see in this angle is the crystal effects on the mug to make it look like glass and the foam of the beer.

Good times!!! I'll post a few of my other creations in the coming days too.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

-----------------------------------

Supplies:

Stamps: My Tailgate or Yours?
Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green by Stampin’ Up
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black by Ranger, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip by Stampin’ Up
Embellishments: White gel pen, Scor-Pal tool, Sewing machine and thread, Liquid appliqué, Crystal Effects by Stampin Up, precision scissors and dye markers by Stampin’ Up, Cuttlebug and mesh embossing folder, Coluzzle for the inside invite.

Notes about the project: OK… isn’t this fun?!?!?! It’s more than what you’d probably do for a stack of invites, but SO much fun! I used my son’s football as a guide. And of course, there is a ton of artistic license in the design.

Did you see this?

Yep! I'm happy dancin'!!! I'm the Guest Designer this month at Gina K Designs!!! Woo-hoo!

OK. I'll quit shouting now... ;-)


Here's the link to Gina's Guest site ---> HERE.

I'd submitted about 6 things to her last summer and was thrilled to get the call from her in September. It's been tough to wait, but oh so worth it. This has been a Dove bar amongst the Hershey's kind of day.

I'll be posting these projects with you over the next couple of days.
Thanks for sharing with me!
Lisa

Majestic Oak

... make us sing and dance, make faces and give flower bouquets, trying to
be loved. You ever notice that trees do everything to get attention we do,
except walk?- Alice Walker

I've always enjoyed the beauty of nature.... the petals of a rose, perfectly blushed with color... the muted colors of soft sands of the beach on a morning walk... the burst of colors in a sunset.

I'm excited about Asela Hopkin's latest release of stamps at Cornish Heritage Farms - trees! This is one of the most stunning additions to her artistry - and all the previous have been amazing! I'm proud that I've been able to create with them this week and have a card to share with you tonight. Her stamps will be released tomorrow, so I'll update you with the links to her product page later.

Sunset:

I stamped the Bare Oak Tree in Stazon Timber Brown on Poison Ivory cardstock. Using my Adirondack ink pads, I watercolored gradients of color to give the illusion of a setting sun. So fast and simple! The inks are incredibly vibrant too, in real life. To keep the design simple, I added the Spanish Script Backgrounder to the main panel, creating variation in the ink colors here too (Butterscotch and Raisin Adirondack inks - rock and roll technique). The wide satin ribbon was a last touch.

Thanks for stopping by!
Lisa

---------------------------------
Supply List:
Stamps: Bare Oak Tree, Spanish Script Backgrounder
Paper: Poison Ivory shimmery cardstock by CutCardStock.com, Sunflowers Medium and Razzleberry Dark Prism cardstocks
Ink: Stazon Timber Brown, Butterscotch, Raisin, Terra Cotta, and Espresso Adirondack inks
Accessories: Raspberry satin ribbon by May Arts, watercolor brush and water

ETA: This card is due to publish later this year... be back soon!

Love... texture

I forgot to post this last week, so I'll share today. The stamp set is Lace Heart by Flourishes and is so elegant.

Love Textures:

The card base is a prefolded notecard that has a red edging. I love using notecards for a quick project, because the embellishments or image take center stage! The center matte is Basic Grey Scarlet Letter. What you can't tell from the picture is that I've added crystal effects to all the dots of the designer paper for added dimension.

The central image is the sentiment "Love" from the Lace Hearts set. I stamped it on a classic oval cut from my Nestabilities and layered on a scalloped oval (purchased from Ellen Huston, LLC). I stamped "Love" with an essential glue pad and added black Fun Flock. I usually have a tough time with this stuff... I admit it. I think it's because I'm in such a hurry that the glue and flock don't have enough time to dry properly. I placed my glue-y sentiment in a coffee filter, liberally applied flock and wrapped the whole thing up to dry overnight. Success! And I only have flocking over half my stamping area!!!

I added a bit of red to the heart of the "L" with a Copic marker, an onyx crystal and a small rhinestone to the main image. The ribbon is doubled (grey taffeta May Arts ribbon and wide red grosgrain). It's held in place with a bar staple to complete the card.

It's a deceptively simple design - with lots of texture.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

Je t'aime

I took 8 years of French (High School and College). My conversational French is not so good... I think it's not taught well in school, personally. I've been to Paris (Oct 2006) and loved every minute of it. I also learned more in how to speak French that one week than in a whole semester of lessons. Total immersion makes a big difference!

Most people know what Je t'aime means... I love you. I thought it was a perfect focal point for this project.

The frame was covered in Basic Grey designer paper, Periphery, with the edges distressed with vanilla acrylic paint. The Prima matches much more closely than this picture depicts. The stamped portion of this project is from Flourishes stamp set, Open to Love. It was such a simple project... but the emphasis remains with the words - I love you.

It's as simple as that. What more could you want?

Thanks for stopping by,

lisa

----------------

Supplies:

Stamp set: Open to Love by Flourishes, LLC

Paper: Basic Grey Periphery paper, Very Vanilla Cardstock

Ink: Brilliance Coffee Bean pigment ink, Brocade Blue

Other: small wooden frame, vanilla acrylic paint, clear Dew Drops, Olive crinkled ribbon by May Arts, Prima flower, sewing machine and cream thread.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

OK... so that's not what I ended up using as the sentiment of this card, but that's what I was thinking when I created this flower.

Love You Always card:I used the Pretty Petals stamp set by Kitchen Sink Stamps to create this card. I have to say... it's a DREAM to use. It's so easy to make a flower, and make it even! Being clear, you can see exactly where it needs to be positioned. Perfect outcome on the first try!

I did each petal separately so I could alternate the colors, but if you wanted to create the flower on your acrylic block and stamp at one time, you could do that too. I do have one tip for you on the sentiment. I used the Never a Loss 4 Words set. I placed the words face down on the cardstock, aligning them where I wanted them. When everything was in place, I pressed my block on top of them and gently lifted. The words stuck to the block, I inked and viewed where I wanted to put them. Perfect.

This card was SO quick for that very reason.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

----------------------------

Supplies:

Stamps: Pretty Petals and Never a Loss 4 Words by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Paper: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White by SU

Ink: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Garden Green, So Saffron, and Basic Black by SU

Accessories: Clear dew drops, ticket corner punch, white gel pen for highlights.

Showing Flourishes Some LOVE

Flourishes, LLC recently released a love set that is truly beautiful. It's called Lace Heart.

I Love Thee card:

I decided to make a card that is a bit more on the masculine side (the designer paper is from a stack of Wild Asparagus that I'd bought at Hobby Lobby - isn't it rich?). The card base is Bordering Blue, with panels of the designer paper. The lace heart was stamped in White Stazon ink on a sheet of acetate (which isn't apparent in my picture). Other pictures and angles of this showed a flash or my reflection, so this was all I could use for this post. LOL!

The frame to my sentiment is a piece of Ranger Grungeboard (swirls), painted with white acrylic paint. Boy, do I love this stuff! It's flexible chipboard, even after it's inked or painted. I love that!!! Rather than pierce the cardstock with brads, I glued it to the card with glue dots and covered the holes in the frame with Silver Bell Dew Drops. They really match the grey-blue hue of the cardstocks.

The sentiment is part of the main text of the set - "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." I thought the traditional text was SO endearing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa

Resolutions and a Retrospective

I always get that gung-ho feeling at the New Year. I know I'm not alone in this. That's why the gym is packed this time of year! LOL! I hope to be one of those gym-going folks in the next week!

But, I had to look at 2007 and review what I'd set out for myself as goals. A few things that I'd said I was going to do...

1. Get organized in my stamping space - OK, so I had my room reorganized by February of '07 and have already outgrown the space. In all fairness, I share it with the kids (their computer and TV). I'm planning on kicking them out in 2008. LOL!!! They just don't know it yet.

2. Be a part of a design team - I couldn't be more proud of this accomplishment. I entered a submission to the CHF call (posted on Lisa Strahl's blog for Fresh Faces / newbies in the business) and was selected. It's truly opened a world of opportunity for me and for that, I'll always be thankful. Design work is so fun for me and I'd like to think I'm learning new things and getting better with everything I create.

3. Be published. - My first card was in The Rubber Stamper's November / December print. This is something that I need to expand in the coming year and have a ton more to learn. It takes a thick skin, a ton of perserverance and patience.

And I had a few other goals related to my work aspirations... I met those by September. Really amazing stuff. It was a good year!

So, what do I want to set before myself for 2008? I think there is a ton of power in putting something in writing. If I state I'll do it and tell the world, well, I need to follow through and see it completed.

1. Publish work.

2. Learn new stamp techniques and share the knowledge. I think this needs to include pushing outside my comfort zone and try something that has intimidated me in the past.

3. Lose weight. I've done it before and can do it again. I just need to commit to it.

I have a sign above my desk at work that sums it up perfectly... and it's what I tell my team every time they are hesitant. JUST DO IT. That's my motto... now I need to live up to it.

Thanks for letting me ramble. Let me know what you have in mind for your resolutions and goals. I'll post a card tomorrow...

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe a new year is here already! I'm not sure where 2007 went!

Some housekeeping, before I share a quick card:

1. I added a subscription option to my blog. If you'd like an email when I add a post, just drop your email address in the Feedblitz bucket on my sidebar.

2. Cornish Heritage Farms is having a sale today (1/1/08!!!). Check it out!

And now a card:This was a fairly quick card using the 3-Step Daisy set by Kitchen Sink Stamps. I stamped the daisy on Kraft paper - first in white pigment ink, a light and dark yellow for depth to the detail. The final touch to the daisies are the chocolate brown centers.

So... I'll update you with more details on the card tomorrow... oops, I mean today (after I've slept).

Happy New Year!

lise

p.s. More later from me... I'd love to know your resolutions for the new year.

------------------

ETA: Card supplies

Stamps: 3-Step Daisy, Never a Loss 4 Words by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Paper: Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive

Ink: White craft, So Saffron, More Mustard, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip by SU

Embellishments: buttons, Sunflower Dew Drops, Tonic piercing tool and matte, sponges