Happy for Gold ~

Howdy!  I’m bopping in today with a card that I’m entering into three challenges:

Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop – Touch of Gold

Wplus9 Designs - Monday Mood Board #15

CAS-ual Fridays #106 – Over the Edge

I decided to meld my two ikat stamp sets together – from PTI and Wplus9.  The diamond shaped border is just a tad larger in the Wplus9 set and fits perfectly with this large flower shape in the PTI set.  It’s so serendipitous!

(Why does the card seem crooked when I photograph it from this angle.  Argh!  It drives me bananas!)

All of the gold is embossed.  The banner hangs off the edge of this smaller than A2 size card base.  I wanted to be able to fit this in a normal envelope, so I cut the base down to 3 7/8.  When I was adding the banner, I had another A2 size card base underneath so that it now is a standard size.  I’m loving these ikat sets and can’t wait to play with more color combos!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a super day!

 

Alyssa

Lil Inker Designs June Release Hop Day 4 ~

Hello!  We’ve reached our last day of the June release hop of Lil Inker Designs!  Today is group post day, and I’m bringing you another little ditty using the Fanfare Scallop Border Die and the Spot On stamp set .  You should have arrived here from Alicia’s blog.  If not, comment here first, and then bop on back to Laura’s blog to get started off right!

This one was actually a labor of love with a few cuss words thrown in for good measure!  lol  Recently, a dear friend of mine and I decided to apply for the same design team thinking it would be super fun to be on it together.  Well, she was asked to join and I was not :(   However, I’m not going to spoil the fun, so here’s a congratulations card for her!

I used the color combo of vintage cream, berry sorbet, groovy guava, hawaiian shores and aqua mist.  Can I tell you how much I love these colors together!  Yummy!!  I started by running a strip of each color through the Xyron machine to make a sticker.  Then the scallop strip had to be cut out in each color about 18 gazillion times!!  Paper piecing this beauty is striking, but, ummm, shall we say, time consuming.  lol  I think those two strips took me about 3++ hours to complete.  The sentiment is heat embossed and I added just a few enamel dots for a little extra color.  Hope you love it Wida!  Congratulations!!

That’s it for me today!  Thank you all for stopping by.  Don’t forget to comment for a chance at fabulous prizes!!  Your next stop is Amy {you still have time to VOTE!}  Have a super day!

 

Alyssa

Lil Inker Designs June Release Hop Day 3 ~

Hello!  Here we are for Day 3 of the June release hop of Lil Inker Designs!  Today we’re bringing you the Fanfare Scallop Border Die and the Spot On stamp set .  You should have arrived here from Alicia’s blog.  If not, comment here first, and then bop on back to Laura’s blog to get started off right!
I’m bringing you a fun card using the fabulous new Fanfare Scallop die, Stitched Mats: Circles, Stitched Mats: Rectangles and Stitched Sentiment Flag.  I saw something on Pinterest the other day that made me think of the new border die as waves and an idea was born.  Of course, I didn’t actually pin it, so trying to find it later was not happening!  lol

For the bottom of the waves, I impressed the border die instead of die cutting it.  I then alternated between a dark and light blue for dimension.  The life saver was created with the Stitched Mats: Circles and embroidery floss.  Uh, wait just a second, did you happen to see my teamie’s life saver card on Monday…can we say awesomesauce?!?  Anywho, here’s a detail of this amazing die

All righty, that’s all I have for you today!  Your next stop is Amy {don’t forget to vote for Gallery Idol!}.  Have fun on the hop!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Alyssa

Lil Inker Designs June Release Hop Day 2 ~

Welcome back to Day 2 of the June release hop for Lil Inker Designs!  We are formally introducing the new folding tags today.  This is a hop so hopefully you’ve found your way here from Alicia’s blog.  If not, comment here first, and then bop on back to Laura’s blog to get started off right!
First up is a little something I’ve been needing for a long time now…I decided to make the original folded tag into a bookmark.  I keep losing my little library card and can never remember when a book is due back, so I thought I’d keep it all nice and tidy in this fabulous little folding tag.
Now, even if I lose the due back receipt, I can easily log onto the website and check the date, renew, place a book on hold, whatever!
Here’s a little larger view so you can see all the details


  The base is cut from oatmeal cardstock with the Original Folding Tag die.  The patterned piece is actually a piece of adhesive backed fabric from Studio Calico.  It gives this little tag a bit more punch and stability.  For a bit more zazz, I added  a strip of navy cardstock and the fabric cut with the Stitched Scallop Border die. 
Now for a more traditional use - as an actual tag.  I made my dad some banana cranberry bread for Father’s Day.


This one is cut from a double sided pattern paper…My Mind’s Eye, I think.  I stamped a simple sentiment from Mom & Dad Sentiments and attached the Dad die at an angle.  It’s finished off with a bunch of baker’s twine and embroidery floss tied in a sweet little bow.  Just the right size to tuck in a cute note {he got a card too, of course }
Thanks for stopping by today and for all your wonderful comments!  Don’t forget to comment along the hop for your chance at some fabulous prizes!  You are off again to Amy’s blog {VOTE for her in Gallery Idol!}.  I’m leaving you with the recipe for this yummy bread below!  Seriously yummy btw, my mom doesn’t even like bananas and she loves this bread.  She was texting last night saying Dad wouldn’t share.  lol

Alyssa


1/4 cup applesauce                                    1/4 vegetable oil
1 cup sugar                                                2 eggs
1 T vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt                                               1 tsp baking soda
1 T cinnamon                                            2 cup flour
4 large bananas (mashed)                          1 cup cranberries
1. Cream sugar, vegetable oil, applesauce and vanilla extract.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each.
2. Sift dry ingredients together and slowly add to creamed mixture.
3. Stir in bananas
4. Pour into one well greased loaf pan; bake at 325* for about 1 hour 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
*I usually double this recipe and make a couple at a time.  Comes out perfect!
*I’ve also added fresh/frozen blueberries instead of cranberries.  Raspberries or strawberries would also be delicious!  Feel free to add nuts if you’d like as well – 1/2 cup. 
*This recipe was modified.  Originally it called for 1/2 cup of butter instead of 1/4 cup applesauce and 1/4 cup vegetable oil.  I have also omitted the vegetable oil before and only used 1/2 cup applesauce.  All are great!  Some are just a teensy bit better for you! 
                                      ENJOY!

Lil’ Inker Designs June Release Hop Day 1 ~

Hi there! Welcome to the June Release Hop for Lil’ Inker Designs!!  We have some super fun things that we’re introducing to you today.  This is a hop so hopefully you’ve found your way here from Alicia’s blog.  If not, comment here first, and then bop on back to Laura’s blog to get started off right!

First up is the Pieced Chevron die.  I chose a fun color scheme of burgundy, berry sorbet, teal and buttery yellow with just a hint of orange.  I die cut the plate in all of the colors except orange and used one of the frames to piece in each color.

One thing that would have made this project easier would be a Xyron machine to make each die cut into a sticker.  Unfortunately, mine is only 2.5” wide, so it didn’t work for this application.  Once every piece was in place, I carefully removed the frame and voila! This was my niece's graduation card, so I had to finish off the inside with a little gift

                        

I used a fun new folding tag that we’ll be featuring tomorrow to add some $$.  I love this!  Nothing to fall out when the card gets opened – it’s all tucked safely away and can’t be missed in its pretty little packaging.  That fun font on ‘Congrats!’ is part of a new stamp set waiting to be revealed later this week.

Having loved this card so much, I went ahead and made a more neutral ‘thank you’ card to have on hand with a textured gray, the same buttery yellow and kraft on a cream base

So much impact, but oh.so.easy to mail!  Gotta love that!  The sentiment is from the last release – Mom & Dad Sentiments.

Now onto the new child of the Stitched Mats…the Circles!! Aack!  So exciting!!!  These circles not only cut a  stitch onto the positive part of the die; they also leave a stitch for the negative part as well!  Awesomesauce!! 

I thought since it was almost exactly at the half mark of the year, that I’d better get my fanny in gear and make a couple Xmas cards.  I pulled out the tried and true Stitched Mats: Squares, Jingle Joy and Holly Jolly Sentiment set.

Eek!  This photo is a little over exposed, sorry about that!  It’s not your eyes either, I stamped the sentiment in aqua mist first and didn’t like it, so I stamped over it in chocolate and loved the shadowed look.  Would you look at that cute little circle?!?  Love it!  Such a fun little 4x4 card!  Now to show you the negative part

This wood grain paper (I think it’s cherry) made me think of a carving in a tree.  So I pulled out the Notebook Doodle set, the Of the Heart dies and the new Stitched Mats: Circles.  A little close up so you can see the wonderful detail

  Don’t you just love it?!  Ok, I’ve rambled on for long enough!  It’s your turn to head on over to Amy’s blog (VOTE FOR HER IN GALLERY IDOL {shameless plug}).  Before you go, leave a comment here for your chance to win some Lil’ Inker Designs yummies!!  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Alyssa

Happy Thoughts ~

Hi there!  I have a fun little card today using some new Wplus9 Designs goodies and some wonderful Lil’ Inker Designs must haves.  I’m also participating in the first Reverse Confetti Sketch for You to Try {so happy these are back!}, the last :( Cloud 9 blog hop and the Monday Mood Board #14 for Wplus9 Designs.  Here are the sketch and the mood board

                          

Here’s my take using Fresh Cut Florals, Strictly Sentiments 2 (Wplus9), Stitched Mats Rectangles and Stitched Mats Squares (LID)

I think I had about every brand of ink I own out stamping these super fun flowers!  Pretty simple really.  I’m just loving these new stamps – so fresh and just the right size.

Before I go, I wanted to let you know that we have a super fun release from Lil’ Inker Designs coming your way starting Monday!  Be sure to stop by for your chance at prizes.  Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Have a wonderful weekend!!

 

Alyssa

Sunflower Birthday ~

WARNING: Photo heavy post
Wowzers!  I’m definitely in the running for worst blogger of 2013…  I haven’t been crafting much lately, even though I’ve been buying tons of new stamps and product.  I go through days where I just want to sell all my stamps, markers, dies…everything!  Does anyone else ever go through that?  Soo frustrating when I think about all I’ve spent on this hobby.  Anywho, I’m not quitting, I love this craft entirely too much :)  Sometimes I just need to hit the reset button, I think!  lol

Before I show you my card for today, I want to point you over to my friend Taheera.  She does a fun feature on her blog called Stamp Spotlight.  Basically, she showcases one stamp set for 3 days – making different looks or techniques each day.  It’s super cool!  The best part though is that you get to comment every day and then she picks a random winner to win the set.  For June she’s using Lil’ Inker Designs Notebook Doodle set and die.  So fun!  Here’s the link for today’s awesome post!  Don’t forget to click back to yesterday’s post for another chance to win :)

May was a super busy month – my step-daughter turned 18, my son ‘graduated’ from pre-school, my grammy turned 96, Mother’s Day, grammy moved to assisted living, more work on the half pipe, built/planted my garden (needed a new one due to the half pipe), spruced up the deck by building a new ‘backsplash’ for the hot tub, finishing the top of the privacy wall, sanding and staining and painting all the new parts, nephew and his girlfriend visit, grandma & grandpa visit, parents went to the Cayman Islands so I took care of house/yard/garden/fish pond and my step-daughter graduated from high school. Whew!  A little peek at what we’ve been up to around these parts
                                   
Btw, I hate my dress from Kayla’s graduation!  I look terrible in this picture, ugh!  Ok, onto the card for today…

Here is a card that I made for my Mom for her birthday in March.  I submitted it to both Paper Crafts magazine and CARDS for a special stamp and color issue.  I always figure, if one picks it up, I can re-make the card for the recipient or make a new one entirely.  But alas, no one picked it up; which means I can show it on the blog!  Yay!

Both the sunflower and the sentiment are stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and clear embossed.  The flower is colored with Copics, and the lady bug is covered in Glossy Accents.  I added a light blue highlight around the flower and the bottom of the leaf that helps the colors pop a bit more. 
Thanks so much for sticking with me!  Have a splendid day!

Alyssa