Embellish Babies & What's on Your Work Desk ~

Hey ladies!  I had to bop in here today with a little card that I dreamed up last night.  Seriously, every time I woke up during the night, I was thinking of this card!  This is for the Embellish: Babies Color Challenge sponsored by Wplus9 stamps.  Don't you just love those stamps??  I just had to get my chance at some goodies!!  Unfortunately, I don't have any Wplus9 stamps...yet!  I'm saving my pennies for anything stamping related right now.  I chose to use my PaperTrey Ink stamps for this little creation.

{Sorry for the photo, it looks a bit off in blogger.}

The background panel is stamped with Distressed Stripes to create a soft plaid.  The cardstock is Vintage Cream and the ink is PTI Lemon Tart and ColorBox Light Peach.  I've been really scared of this stamp set.  I just *had* to have it and haven't touched it for fear of not being perfect...oh, the horror! lol  The cute little snail is from PTI Baby Button Bits and is stamped in Chocolate Chip ink.  I stamped the shell in Light Peach as well and popped it up on Mini glue dots.  The Spring Moss *wheels* are tied on with Rustic Cream twine.  I also created a little pull rope for the toy with the twine.  It helps to balance the panel.  The last little addition is a Certainly Celery bow and sentiment tag.  Now, you might think that I'm oh.so.clever with my layout.  Oh no!  This is the Taylored Expressions Sketch #118.  Sadly, I don't have any TE stamps either - seems I've been spending too much money on PTI!  lol  I'll have to remedy that when I get said stamping $$ and spread the love around some more ;o)

What's on Your Work Desk Wednesdays just had to be visited today.  It's so fun to see the creative process for everyone else.  Seems we're all a bit of slobs!  Mine's still kind of a mess!  Oh well...as long as I know where things are I guess.  Thanks for bopping by today!  :o) lyss 

SUPPLIES ~
STAMPS: PaperTrey Ink Baby Button Bits, Bitty Baby Blessings, Distressed Stripes & Inside Out: Baby
INK: ColorBox Light Peach; PTI Lemon Tart; SU Chocolate Chip
PAPER: Prism Peach; PTI Lemon Tart & Vintage Cream
OTHER: SU Certainly Celery twill; PTI Rustic Cream twine & Spring Moss vintage buttons; dimensionals; glue dots; Spellbinders Tags die, small and large long classic rectangles; EK Success border punch

Fourth Friday Challenge with Paper Garden Projects for June ~

Hey ladies!  It's the 4th Friday of the month again (geez, these months just go faster and faster as I stay younger!).  This month, we want to see projects that make us feel cooler. Whether that is cool colors (like blue and green), or cool images (like swimming, ice cream or even snowmen). Anything you think is cool goes.

Just add a link to your card using the cute froggy face on this post. One random winner will be chosen to receive this new, very cool Kraftin Kimmie stamp - Tubing Miles. Cute little fella huh?

I chose to use the cool colors theme with the new Kaisercraft Utopia clear stamp set.  I fell in love with the gorgeous little corner stamp right away and decided to build the flowers and leaf image around these. I also decided to make a little something for myself! How selfish!

I used Eclipse masking tape to start. All of the images were stamped on a section of the tape and then cut out. I can store these right on the same acetate sheet as the stamps and re use them as often as I like. 
The project I made is a template from Perfect Presentation called It's a Keeper. I wanted to make something that could sit out on my desk and look pretty, yet be functional. It will hold all those stamped images I've yet to color. I began with the background piece and masked away to build the little scene.

You can kind of tell from this picture where the masks are - they're a bit yellower than the white cardstock I'm stamping on. (Sorry for how dirty the background paper is!) The finished piece is actually upside down from this masking picture.  Here's the final project

The colors are cool blues, purples and greens.  I took the cue from the Utopia paper pack.  Such gorgeous papers!!  I wanted just a bit of texture, so I wrapped some thin, black satin ribbon around the finished template about 4 times and tied it in a nice little bow.  Lastly, I added a little turquoise button with some green embroidery floss to the front panel.  Here are the side panels; they're masked in the same fashion.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  Be sure to check out the other Gardener's for more inspiration!  I'm going to be lazy and just direct you to their links in my sidebar.  Hope you all have a great start to your weekend!  :o) lyss

SUPPLIES ~
STAMPS: Kaisercraft Utopia
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
PAPER: PaperTrey Ink SS White & True Black 
OTHER: Perfect Presentation Templates It's a Keeper; Copics {BG10, BG15, BG23, BG49, V01, V09, V17, V95, V99, YG11, YG13, YG17}; PTI Vintage button Hawaiian Shores; Black satin ribbon; Scor Tape; Eclipse Masking tape

My Mr. Fix It ~

Hey all!  I wanted to share with you the card I made for my dad for Father's Day.  My dad is the most wonderful man.  He's smart, kind, patient and quiet...well, until he's passionate about something! lol  We are extremely close - partially because I spent so much time with him growing up.  Our family owns a health food store that I *worked* at until I left for college.  At the age of 5, I was running the register and counting change back to customers.  I spent every day there after school with my father.  {My mom was a florist up until after I had been in college for a couple years.  At that point, she was finally able to quit the stressful life of a florist (think bridezillas and funeral flowers) and work side-by-side with my dad.}  Growing up, my dad fixed everything - from the garbage disposal when my mom and I clogged it up with potato peels on Thanksgiving Day to buying clunker cars and rebuilding the engines to replacing the heating coil in our dryer, I don't know, like 50 times!  Now the poor man has 3 or 4 "Honey-Do" lists when he comes up to visit.  He has to fix things here at my house, my mom's house, my grammy's house and sometimes help with any of my 3 brother's houses too!  With that said, this is the perfect image for his card.

This is Mr. Fix It Grandpa from Karen's Doodles.  He is adorable!  Love his stash and that he's not bald.  My dad still has a great head of hair - I didn't want to color him gray though.  He's still 39...at least that's what he's holding at!  I was inspired by this card from the last round of Gallery Idol.  Love the little strip of nails, so I just had to try it.  All those little brads are held in place with two rows of Scor Tape and a line of Tombo Mono multi glue down the center.  The dp is Cosmo Cricket Cogsmo from a few years ago - the gears just seemed so appropriate.  He is mounted on some cork paper and anchored with some screw tipped brads.  I didn't mail this to him b/c I didn't want to risk any of the brads to fall off in transit - although, I think they're stuck in place for good!

  The inside is finished with PTI's Fillable Frames 4 and some scraps of the Cogsmo paper.  I sent him an email of his card - gotta love modern technology!  My dad's sweet and saves every card I make for him.  Love you, Daddy!

Now, just because I'm feeling all nostalgic and whatnot, here is an example of what my poor father had to put up with!  This is the movie that made me fall in love with Johnny Depp.  We didn't get 21 Jump Street, so I didn't see him till Crybaby.  I think I was like 14 or 15 years old.  I proceeded to watch it over and over and over!  My poor parents!  It's fabulous and campy and corny!  You really must see it at least once!
Hope you all are having a fantastic week!  I hope to get back here tomorrow with another card...we'll see!  I'm off to get my hair done today - Yay!  A little *me* time is just what I need right now!  I'll be back on Friday with the Fourth Friday Challenge with Paper Garden Projects.  There's a cute little prize involved, so you'll want to play along!  Thanks so much for stopping by! :o) lyss
SUPPLIES ~
STAMPS: Karen's Doodles Mr Fix It Grandpa; PaperTrey Ink Fillable Frames 4
INK: HP printer ink; Versafine Onyx Black; PTI Pure Poppy
PAPER: PTI Pure Poppy, SS White & True Black; Cosmo Cricket Cogsmo; cork
OTHER: Copics {Colorless blender, 110 Spcl Black, B95, B97, C1, C3, C5, E00, E02, E27, E29, E37, E43, E51, E55, E57, E59, R02, R24, R27, R29, W3, W5, W7, Y11, Y15, Y28}; 1" brads; Scor Tape; Tombo Mono Multi glue; screw brads; dimensional foam tape

Summer Stroll Garden Walk Blog Hop ~

Welcome to the Paper Garden Projects Summer Stroll Garden Walk!
Take a stroll through the blogs of the Paper Gardeners and enjoy some friendly inspiration. This month we are focusing on some big summer fun.
While you visit, subscribe to each Gardener's blog and take note of each designer's name and their special summery garden walk word in their blog post. Once you finish your garden tour, send an E-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their garden walk word.
Everyone who sends the correct list of designers and words will be entered in a random drawing to win a prize. You need to send an e-mail to the address above; please don't leave your list as a comment. You have until midnight (EST) on Tuesday, June 22 to send your list.
And the prize? How about this fun summer unmounted stamp set from Kraftin Kimmie - Mae (love that hat!).
So enjoy the garden tour (don't forget your sunscreen). Here is the garden tour guide list:
Cathy
Amber
Tangii
Erin
Andrea
Alyssa (psst...you're already here!)

What does summer say to me?  Barbecues, watermelon, the smell of cut grass and sunscreen...doesn't it also make you think of the 4th of July, sparklers and parades?  I chose to use this image from Eat Cake Graphics called For the Brave available at Paper Garden Projects.  This is a long stamp - 5 inches wide - so this card is 5.5 inches square.  These cute little kiddos are colored with Copics.  Some areas of the stamp were cut out and popped up on dimensionals - the wagon, both American flags and the tallest boy's hat (that's what I'm trying to show in the above photo). 

I know if I had a little girl, she would have to have some ruby red slippers!  So I gave the littlest girl some sparkly shoes and stars on her headband.  The layout is the current challenge over on Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #117.  The designer paper is from the Pink Paislee 365 Degrees 6x6 paper pad  - Gorgeous!  Starting a card with papers, stamps and layout in mind makes it easy peasy!!  Hope you enjoyed my little stop on the Gardeners' Hop!  My word is another word that will make you think of summer - SWIM.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Have fun hopping along and have a wonderful weekend!  I used so many Copics on this card that I took a pic instead of listing them.  :o) lyss 

SUPPLIES ~
STAMPS: Eat Cake Graphics For the Brave
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
PAPER: PTI Rustic Cream & True Black; Prism Red; Pink Paislee 365 Degrees 
OTHER: Copics {pictured}; Stickles {pictured}; SU dimensionals; Sakura white gel and black glaze pens

An Embellished Wedding card ~

I'm back!  We've been playing in the sprinklers and the hot tub all afternoon - so much fun!  We've turned the hot tub down so we can play in it instead of trekking to the pool everyday. 

I need a wedding card for a coworker of my hubby's.  Such a very sweet, young couple!  Geesh, I sound like an old lady!  LOL  Since their wedding invitation is cream and brown, I decided to use the current Embellish challenge as a jumping board.  The challenge stipulates the use of a label as the focus of your card.  This truly is a challenge for me!  I've never used a label like that! 
I had so many visions of this card, so it took me a long time to make.  My Cricut wasn't cooperating either, so I had a few *practice* runs before I decided on the final stamps and what not.  While it was frustrating at first, I am pleased with the result.

I used Rustic Cream as the card base to tie back to the wedding invitation.  The label was created with a cut file from Perfect Presentation: Label Frames 1 and cut out with a Cricut.  I resized it to take up the majority of the card front.  The smaller font of the sentiment was split in half to frame the Mr. & Mrs. portion.  I sponged around the edges with the vintage tea dye duo from PaperTrey Ink.  A hole was punched with a crop-a-dile to feed the twine through.  This left the label unbalanced, I thought, so I added a little brown pearl.  The background is stamped in Chocolate Chip ink on Dark Chocolate cardstock.  I then sponged around the sides with the same ink.  Both the label and also the background paper are up on dimensional foam tape.  That wraps up this little card!  A simple card that took me ages!  lol 
Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a fantastic rest of your day!! :o) lyss
SUPPLIES ~
STAMPS: PaperTrey Ink Big & Bold Wishes, Giga Guidelines & Turning a New Leaf 
INK: PTI Vintage Tea Dye Duo; SU Chocolate Chip & Groovy Guava
PAPER: PTI Dark Chocolate & Rustic Cream; SU Groovy Guava
OTHER: PTI Lemon Tart twill; Perfect Presentation Label Frames 1; dimensional tape; Crop-a-dile; Recollections brown pearl

A post for Harriet ~

My blogging buddy, Harriet, was a sweetie this week and gave me an award on her blog.  Thanks so much!  Here are the *rules*:

1. Thank and link the person who gave you the award
2. Display the award on your blog
3. Tell 6 lies and one truth about yourself or vice versa
4. Nominate 7 others and leave a message letting them know.

Here are my little snippets...you decide what is fact or fiction!
1. I lettered in choir in high school.
2. I have a degree in Western Herbalism.
3. I once rode over 700 miles in one day on a motorcycle.
4. I love to exercise.
5. I was 15 years old when I saw the ocean for the first time.
6. I sleep with a stuffed animal I've had since I was 7.
7. I have a degree in Human Nutrition: Dietetics.

Now, I don't like to play by the rules; therefore, I'm not going to give this award out to people.  I think all of my blogging buddies are fabulous, creative and wonderful women!  So consider this given to you!  Post it on your blog and let me know so I can guess if you're giving out a slew of lies or telling little innocent truths.

Another thing Harriet does is plays along with the What's on Your Work Desk Wednesdays.  I thought I might play along today since I actually got to play last night.  Hubby got a new game for his PlayStation, so I got free stamping time!!  WooHoo!!

I actually don't know how I got anything done since it's such a mess!  Harriet, those flowers are for you!  I tried to get a better picture but was unsuccessful.  Here are a couple more from the front garden - hope they cheer up your day :o)

This iris is called Black Beauty.  The picture isn't the best, but they bloom for such a short time that I wasn't able to get anything better. 
Ok, I'm off to photograph the card I made last night for the current Embellish challenge.  I'll be back later to post it!  Have a super hump day!  :o) lyss

Hello Tulip ~

Hi everyone!  Thank you for all your well wishes for my grammy!  She is feeling better everyday but looking worse.  Her doctor says this is to be expected so we shouldn't be worried.  It's just the facial bruising, and I know that will heal quickly. She's in good spirits and loves to tell her story! lol

I'm back today with a pretty little card that was inspired by a few different challenges: Kristina Werner Color Challenge, Mojo Monday sketch challenge #142 and JUGS technique challenge {Let's Get Digital}.  I now have that Olivia Newton John tune in my head...thanks JUGS!!  LOL 
I chose to make the sketch into a large 5x5 square card because it fit the image that I wanted to use better.   I used a free digital image from Paper Garden Projects for my focal image. 
This beautiful tulip image is printed on PTI Vintage Cream cardstock and colored with Copics.  This is such an easy image to color because the shading has already been added for you!  Thanks Cathy!  I sponged the edges of the image with the PTI Vintage tea dye Chamomile while it was still in the die cut. 
The circle element is stamped with the filigree circle from Verve's Artful Elegance in Spring Moss ink on Vintage Cream.  I didn't want this element to get too large; instead of matting on SM like the focal image, I swiped the ink pad around the circle before matting it on the Plum Pudding cardstock.  It's hard to tell in the picture, but the sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and the ribbon tabs are CC grosgrain.  I'm taking a little liberty with the color challenge here and calling the lighter color in the tulips the pale plum and the darker shaded parts the darker purple.  lol  Gotta stretch the rules!  That's just the kind of gal I am!  ;o)

Speaking of digi stamps, you really should check out the Peony set over at Paper Garden Projects.   For $4.99 you get 3 floral images, 4 sentiments and 2 botanical names.  Talk about value!! Most digi companies charge $3 - $5 for one image without sentiments.  I have one of these all colored up but need to get it onto a card first. 
That's all I have for you today!  I hope you all are having a fabulous weekend!  It's not so pretty here in Colorado.  We're in the mid 50's with lots of rain - this means a flood watch due to all the snow melt coming from the Rockies and lots of tornado watch/warnings when it starts to warm up again.  I've got a ton of images stamped up and my Copics portable so I have things to do while hiding out in the crawl space! LOL 
You might start to see tons of changes on the old blog.  Since blogger has changed the design set up, I just can't stop trying new looks.  Right now it's pretty calm, but we'll just have to see what tomorrow brings!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  :o) lyss
ETA: I didn't make it in time for the color challenge...in my haste, I read 12pm as midnight!  What a silly girl!
SUPPLIES ~
STAMPS: Paper Garden Projects Tulip digi stamp set; Verve Artful Elegance
INK: PTI Spring Moss & Vintage Chamomile; SU Chocolate Chip
PAPER: PTI Plum Pudding, Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss & Vintage Cream; PTI Pretty Pastels dp
OTHER: Copics {V95, V99, YG91, YG93, YG95}; SU Chocolate Chip grosgrain; Spellbinders Classic Square & Classic Circle nestabilities; dimensionals; glue dots; EK Success scallop border punch

Gratitude Blossom ~

Hi all!  I know I promised to try to be back more this week, but I just can't seem to get any motivation to create anything.  I'm hoping that my mojo comes back soon; I've really begun to miss it!  Also, my 93 year old grammy fell while carrying groceries into her house.  The tough old bird didn't break anything (amazingly) but did whack her head good enough to deserve 5 staples.  It really scares me, but my mom doesn't think that I should go down to visit her because she has ended up with 2 shiners.  My mom thinks that the way she looks might really scare Zane.  I'm with her but don't want to miss a chance to see her.  She's really started to give up and let go of more things this year.  It makes me think that she is ready to leave this earth.  Ugh...anyway, on a happier note, I did actually create something today!
I decided to participate in a cute and fun sketch from the new Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge blog.  It's their first sketch.  I think the little window and the large embellishment drew me to this one.  I've been hoarding a little vellum flower that I made weeks ago for just the right project! 

The color scheme is pulled from the brad.  The leaves are in place of the ribbon or tag looking portion of the sketch.  The sentiment is from Verve's Beautiful You set and is embossed on the vellum.  This card is so simple that I don't think any more explanation is necessary.  I hope you all are having a fantastic week!  Thank you so much for stopping by!  If all goes well, I hope to be back tomorrow or Saturday with a card using the Mojo Monday sketch.  Cross your fingers for me...  :o)  lyss

SUPPLIES ~
STAMPS: PTI Background Basics: Tin Types; Verve Beautiful You
INK: Versafine Onyx Black; VersaMark
PAPER: PTI Vellum;SU Cool Caribbean &Tempting Turquoise
OTHER: Cricut Storybook cartridge; K&Comp fabric brad; green felt (Hobby Lobby); PTI Delightful Dahlia leaf die; Spellbinders Scallop & Classic Square nesties; Spellbinders Classic Circle nesties; Filigree clear embossing powder; dimensionals; glue dots

FHF: Kaleidoscope Krew's Color Challenge #3 ~

Hey all!  I've been busy outside, and it seems as if blogland has somewhat quieted down for the summer.  I'm back today with a new color challenge from the fearless leader of the Kaleidoscope Krew, Alison.
What crazy, fun colors!  We all joked about how very 80's they are! lol  Guess I'm kind of dating myself, eh?  Well once the seed was planted, I couldn't quite get the 80's reference out of my head.  I also, apparently, couldn't get the star swatches out of my brain either! 

I die cut a rectangle nestabilitie and embossed it before stamping my image.  I then added some chalk highlights before removing it from the die.  This sweet little image is Amelia from the Greeting Farm's Oliver & Amelia Happy Day set.  She is just too cute with her big white patent leather belt and star and pearl necklace.  I used some Liquid pearls on her necklace and pigtail pom-poms.  The sentiment is from a My Favorite Things sentiment set (sorry, too lazy to look it up right now!).  It has a cool font and some catchy little phrases!  All the card needed was some more punches of these bright colors, so I chose 3 sizes of star nesties.  Simple, but all that color packs a punch!
We have some changes in the Krew today.  Julie, sadly, is leaving us.  But with every absence comes a new addition!  We are lucky enough to have Danielle Hayes joining us.  Please bop on over to her blog, Scrappy Arts n Thought, and give her a fabulous welcome!  While you're bopping along, you should go leave some love for the rest of the Kaleidoscope Krew:

Alison  ~  Alex  ~  Danielle  ~  Laura

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'll try not to be quite so absent ;o) Have a super start to your week! :o) lyss

SUPPLIES ~
STAMPS: Greeting Farm OA Happy Day; MFT sentiment
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Onyx Black
PAPER: Neenah Crest Solar White; PTI SS White; SU Green Galore, Orchid Opulance & Pink Passion
OTHER: Copics {C1, E00, E02, E29, E33, E37, RV11, RV13, RV14, V01, V09, YG11, G14}; Liquid Pearls White Opal; Sakura clear and black glaze pens; Pebbles Pearlescent chalks