Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Vertical Greeting cards

I couldn't resist making some more cards with my new Vertical Greetings die and stamp set.  I used an old sketch,  MFTWSC58 as the layout.  This sketch was a favourite and perfect for these stamps and die!


I stamped the image in SU Baja Breeze and SU Soft Suede ink.  The paper is from my "I can't remember the name" scrap pile :) and I used the Pretty Posies die-namic for the flower adding a button in the middle.  Honestly, this set whips up a card SO quickly - I love it!

Cheerio.....Leslie

Monday, February 27, 2012

Sweet Sunday Sailing - SSSC153

My friend, Vicky, is well into her cruise by now.  This is the card I made for her before she left.  Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge (SSSC153) was a great layout and only "tweaked" a couple of things.  I made my card horizontal and shortened the panel behind the circle.

I stamped Float my Boat from There She Goes in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured it with copics and added some pencil crayon and OMS for extra shading.

The paper is MME Everyday Flair and SU Bashful Blue.  I kept the card pretty simple - just a bauble in each corner and a bit of sewing around the edge.  I love the felt waves made with the Catch a Wave die.  I was going to add another row of waves but wanted calm seas for Vicky! :)  

Cheerio.....Leslie

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Violin Girl - MFTWSC60

It's a lazy weekend here so I had some time to play along with the MFTWSC60.  I used my new PI Violin Girl that I adore - I have seen SO many adorable cards made with her, I just had to have her!

I stamped her in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured her with copics.

As with most PI images, her jumper was perfect for paper piecing but cutting out that violin to place on top was a bit of a challenge!  The paper is MME Lost & Found Madison Avenue with some SU Early Espresso and Pretty in Pink.  I followed the sketch exactly using the Open Scallop Edge die-namic and the Ticket Tab die-namic which I shortened by watching Karen's tutorial here.  I added several coats of clear glaze pen to her shoes to make them shine and one little rhinestone for a bit of sparkle.  Some pretty pleated pink ribbon and some rhinestones and this little sweetie is ready for her concert!

Cheerio.....Leslie

Friday, February 24, 2012

Bellariffic Friday - Sketch 4 - Millie minus Milo

It's Bellariffic Friday and this week it's another sketch from Ebrubella.  I love that every other week is a sketch.  Today I used the newly released Millie and Milo Exchange Prezzies BUT I left Milo off - in fact I cut (eek!) the image in half so now I get double the usage and don't have to mask off one if I don't want them both.  Does that make sense?

I stamped Millie in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured her with copics.

The paper is BasicGrey Kioshi with SU Certainly Celery and Orchid Opulence.  I did a quick stitch around the edge and instead of the photo corners on the sketch, I used a brad in each corner (that's my interpretation of the sketch - LOL).  Oval nesties were used to cut Millie out and I added a scallop oval behind her.  I also flipped the sketch so that the bow was on the left side - I thought it balanced the balloon better.  A few tiny twinkles on the Scallop Trim border and the little flower on her top added a little sparkle.  Millie is adorable, with or without Milo by her side!

Cheerio.....Leslie

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Girl Talk - MFTWSC59

I'm squeaking this week's MFT Wednesday Stamp Club sketch 59 just in time!  I used the ALM Girl Talk - and the new Vertical Greeting die to cut her out.  I love that this new die fits so many of the MFT images!

I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured her with copics.

The paper is from my scrap pile - sorry, I can't remember the name of it.  I paper pieced her Iphone and shaded it a bit on the edges.  I used the Divine Swirl embossing folder on the middle layer for a bit of texture.  The First Place Award Ribbon die was perfect for the sentiment and I kept it pretty simple with regards to embellishments - just a little flower with a green rhinestone in the middle. 

Girl Talk is so important - what would we do without our girlfriends?!

Cheerio.....Leslie

Friday, February 17, 2012

From Baskets to Bars - Happy Blogoversary to me!!

I still can't quite believe I have a blog and that today is my one year blogoversary!  I guess after a year I should tell you a little bit about how I got started in the stamping world.  Twenty three (yes you read that right) years ago Anna (my friend and bosses wife!) gave me a card with a tiny bear stamped in the middle.  I was intrigued.  I attended a stamping class where I made one card.  I stamped an image, coloured it with only pencil crayons, a heart shaped punch, some decorative scissors, a bit of sponging,  some glitter and I was HOOKED!!  I loved everything about stamping and I was totally smitten with the cute, country look.  I still have that first card I made and I'll show you at the end of this post so you can have a laugh!  I pulled it out last week and was showing it to Karen and we laughed and laughed - I laughed even more when I realized I'd forgotten to colour her bangs!!  It took me 23 years to spot that?!  Well, I'm not into the country look anymore but I do still love the "cute" images.  I'm so glad today's Bellariffic Friday is "anything goes", 'cause I've stepped it up a notch...from country baskets to city bars! 

I stamped Uptown Girls Madison has a Margarita in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured her with copics.  I pulled out my pencil crayons and OMS for some extra shading.

The paper is BasicGrey Sweet Threads with SU Old Olive and Rose Red.  I made a Simply Scallops border and added a bit of SU Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon on top.  The flower is made with the Prima Donna Petals die and two Leafy Flourish underneath.  I embossed the flower with my swiss dots embossing folder for a little texture and added a green rhinestone to the middle.  No Uptown Girl is complete without some sparkle so I added two teeny tiny rhinestones to her dress and added some glitter around her!  Her margarita glass has several coats of clear glaze pen to make it shine. 

Okay, are you ready?  Let's step back in time, 23  years ago, and look at the card that started it all for me - my love of stamping and card making.  Laugh along with me...and check out her bangs!


Thank you for all your encouraging comments over this past year - your help, your tips and YOUR blogs which help make me a better stamper!  Thank you from the bottom of my little country city heart! :)

Cheerio.....Leslie

Monday, February 13, 2012

Sweet Sunday Second Try - SSSC152

I messed up the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge (SSSC152) yesterday, so decided to give it another try.  This time I had the sketch right in front of me :) 

I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured it with copics.  I added a bit of Stardust clear to the frothy milk to give it a bit of sparkle.

The image is from the stamp set Hot Concoctions by Paper Smooches and the sentiment is from the Making a List stamp set.  I used SU Early Espresso (how appropriate!) and Baja Breeze and the pattern paper is MME Lost & Found Portobello Road.  I love the pleated Baja Breeze ribbon - it's new from SU - and I layered it on top of the Dizzy Border die.  I'm glad I tried this sketch again and got it right this time:)

Cheerio.....Leslie

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Sweet Sunday Ornaments - SSSC152

It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge (SSSC152).  From here on, I'm going to try and make all my SSSC cards Christmas cards.  I can't promise, but I'll try and think how many I'll have by December!  When I saw this sketch from Karen I thought that Cutesy Ornaments would work nicely.

I stamped the images with Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured them with copics.  I added Atyou Spica pens for a bit of sparkle, although it's hard to see in the photo.

The pattern paper is BoBunny 'Tis the Season Stripe with SU Old Olive.  I used the Double Scallop Border and a bit of red ribbon on top.  The sentiment is from Clearly Sentimental About Christmas.  I popped up the ornaments and drew in the ornament hook by hand.  I had it all assembled and was quite pleased with it but kept looking at it thinking, something is missing - it seems a bit bare in the middle.  Then I looked at the sketch again and realized I'd missed a whole panel! D'oh!  Well, as they say, "once it's stuck, you're out of luck" so I added a row of rhinestones and one in each corner and it will have to do.

Cheerio.....Leslie

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Fresh from the Oven Thank You - MFTWSC58

I'm a few days late with the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club and sketch 58. We recently had our kitchen renovated and I wanted to make a card to thank Janet and Dan for the fabulous job they did!  I knew Fresh from the Oven would be perfect.

I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured her with copics.

These PI girls are perfect for paper piecing and so I paper pieced her hat and apron to match.  Can you believe the pattern paper is called Kitschy Kitchen?  How appropriate is that?!  The card base is SU Mellow Moss.  I used the First Place Award Ribbon for the sentiment banner and I tweaked the sketch just a bit by tucking the banner under her legs.  Some brads in each corner and a button tied with cotton thread finished it off.  I hope they love their card as much as I love my new kitchen!

Cheerio.....Leslie

Friday, February 10, 2012

Bellariffic Friday - Sketch 3 - Fairy Princesses

It's time for another Bellariffic Friday and this week it's another fab sketch from Ebruabella!

I used one of Stamping Bella's new releases Fairy Princesses.  I love that you get two princesses in the pack - double the trouble and this one surely looks like she could get into some trouble!

I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured her with copics.

The pattern paper is from Girls Paperie, Vintage Whimsy and the solid cardstock is SU Pear Pizzazz.  The sketch had some zig zag sewing on it which scares me but I watched Karen's video tutorial and practiced on a scrap first and I'm pretty pleased with how I did - wonder what my sister will think?!  I added some glitter because all fairy princesses have glitter and I used the crown border die and added some tiny pink rhinestones to it.  A bit of pink ribbon, a bow and this little fairy princess is all set.  I love this sketch and will store it away for future use - thanks Ebru!

Cheerio.....Leslie

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Fishing for Love

Love is in the air and The Cat's Pajamas is having a Valentine Blog Hop!  If you'd like to join in here are the details.  I used Just Chillin' with a minor "modification" to fit the challenge - can you spot it?

I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured her with copics.

The pattern paper is from MME Lost & Found Madison Avenue with some Early Espresso as the base.  I used the lacy circle nestie to layer the image on and popped it up for some dimension.  Using my copic multiliner I outlined the circle.  She HAD to have some sparkle so I added glitter to her hood and cuffs.  A bit of ribbon over the scallop trim border finished it off nicely.  My "modification" is the little heart I drew in by hand at the end of her fishing rod - well actually two hearts as I popped one up!  This little cutie is fishing for love :)

Cheerio.....Leslie

Friday, February 3, 2012

Bellariffic Friday - Pink/Red/White

It's Friday and that means....Bellariffic Friday!  Today's theme was either a Valentine's Day/Love card or use Pink, White and Red  on your card, and that's what I did.

I stamped Uptown Girl Claudia has a Candy in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured her with copics.  I also tried a little shading afterwards with my pencil crayons and OMS.  I think I need to more practice, it seems a bit too pale.
 

It's a pretty basic layout - half a white doily, red cardstock embossed with SU Flourish textured embossing plate, some red ribbon and a bow made with the Bow Easy.  Some glitter around her because an Uptown Girl cannot be without glitter and a coat of black glaze pen on her shoes!  This is going to England for a lovely birthday gal (Happy Birthday Joanne!) who celebrates on Valentine's Day!  Perfect colours for her, don't you think?

Cheerio.....Leslie