Happy Holly Days - MFTWSC91

I played along with MFTWSC91 sketch today.  I really need to push on with the Christmas cards so used Holly Girl on my card.

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

The pattern papers are from Crate Paper Snow Day and, of course, I had to paper piece her dress!  I used the Simply Scallops and Fishtail Flags Stax die-namics.  Her shoes are super shiny thanks to several coats of clear glaze pen and I added some sparkle to the holly berries with my red Atyou Spica pen.  The rhinestones along the scallop border were clear so I coloured them with a copic to match the paper.  I see this all the time on other people's cards and always forget to do it myself - love that it matches perfectly now! 

Cheerio.....Leslie

Miles the Mouse - September SFYTT

Well it's the last Saturday in September and that brings to an end my job as the September Guest Designer for Jen's Sketch For You To Try.  I have loved my job and I took it very seriously, managing 4 out of the 5 weeks!

For my last card I used the simply adorable Stocking Miles from Kraftin' Kimmie - the sponsor for this month.  He is stamped in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured with copics.

The paper is Authentique Wonder and I paper pieced his little stocking adding lots of glitter around the trim.

I used the Fishtail Flags Stax in several sizes and the "Noel" is from the sentiment set called Merry and Bright.  Here's the rest of the fabulous SFYTT Sisters for more inspiration:

Amber Hight
Amy Sheffer
Becky Carafa
Carole Burrage
Jen Tapler
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles
Tracy Schultz

Thank you again for the wonderful opportunity to be your Guest Designer this month.

Cheerio.....Leslie

Bellariffic Friday - Sketch 19

Bellariffic Friday again and it's time for another sketch, #19 this week.  I was a bit scared of this sketch but can see me using it again as turned out to be pretty easy - even though I tweaked it ever so slightly!  I had a special order for a birthday card and when flipping through all my Stamping Bella images came across Addy tude who had never been inked!  I had to fix that right away :)

I stamped Addy tude loves to sparkle in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured her with copics.

The paper is from another TE KI kit - makes it SO easy to match up.  I paper pieced her dress and used a scallop border edged with some Bella dots along the side.  Her ring and earings have lots of sparkle from my Atyou Spica pen and I added just a scattering of glitter to her scarf.  I was tempted to glitter the whole scarf but held back :)  Her glasses make me smile and I added several, and I mean about 6 or 7, layers of clear glaze pen - they are fantastic in person but might not show up well in the photo.

The sentiment "never stop sparkling" comes with the image (love that) and I just masked it making two lines,so it would fit in my oval punch.  I love how she turned out.....all sparkly and sassy.....like she's off to her own birthday party!

Cheerio.....Leslie

Pumpkin Girl - MFTWSC90

I was making some cards with a dear friend last week and the papers and image were still out on my desk so I decided to make this week's MFTWSC90 card with them and THEN have a tidy up :)

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

The pattern paper is from SEI Winnie's Walls and since there's a chill in the air now, I paper pieced her the cutest little sweater.  The solid cardstock is SU Wild Wasabi and Pumpkin Pie - the perfect colour!  I added some rick rack to mimic my zig zag sewing and a bit of sparkle on the pumpkins.

I used Fishtail Flags Stax on the inside - I just love these and they are a great way to use up those little scraps of paper.

Cheerio.....Leslie

Moaning Moira - September SFYTT

It's my third week as Jen's September Guest Designer for her Sketch For You To Try and I'm having so much fun with the Kraftin' Kimmies images - the sponsor this month.  For today's card I used Moaning Moira - don't you just love her name?!

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

I knew I wanted her face either green or a ghostly gray and I settled on green.  The pattern paper is Basic Gray Eerie and I used some purple and orange to mat it - two of my "go to" colours for Halloween.  Her dress has a bit of sparkle from my Atyou Spica pens and I added some MS glitter to her wings.  I had a lot of fun with the embellishments - a bat brad (sheesh, try and say that fast!), MS spider web border and that oh so sparkly black ribbon.  I love that the sentiment comes with the image and I cut it out using the Oval Stax 1 & 2.

On the inside I used the Fishtail Flags Stax and just stamped the top portion of Moira, leaving room for my spooky greeting.

Have a great weekend and I hope you can play along with Jen's SFYTT!

Cheerio.....Leslie

Bellariffic Friday - Buttons and Bows

It's Friday and that means another Bellariffic Friday!  Today's theme was Buttons and Bows and I made this card specially for Auntie Mollie.  She doesn't like green...at all...ever...never, sooo whenever I make her a card there mustn't be any green on it - a challenge for sure but I like a challenge :)

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

The paper is Lilybeedesign Buttercup - a sweet little 6 x 6 pad with only blues and yellows.  I used SSSC160 which is long gone but I didn't have a chance to play along, so better late than never.  Anastasia is cut out and popped onto a Vertical Greeting die-namic which I ran through the Big Shot with my SU Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  I used two of the Fishtail Flags Stax and added a trio of buttons tied with baker's twine.  Her glasses are my favourite part of her so I gave them a very generous coating of crystal effects and for a bit of sparkle went over the frame with an Atyou Spica pen.  Come to think of it, I have a pair of readers almost that colour!

I used the Chevron Stripes die-namic for a simple border on the inside of the card.

Happy Birthday Auntie Mollie!

Cheerio.....Leslie

Happy Birthday Doc - MFTWSC89

I had a chance to play along today with the MFTWSC89.  I needed another birthday card for a doctor at work and of course, MFT has the perfect image in the oh so cute PI, World's Best Doctor!

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

I had the paper (MME Indie Chic Nutmeg) picked first so I just coloured his pants and top to look like scrubs under his lab coat :)  I cut him out and popped him up following the sketch almost perfectly - I just left off the tab at the top.  The Fishtail Flag Stax was perfect for this sketch but the largest one was a bit too wide for my card so I just cut it by hand to match the blue flag.  I used the Notched Border die-namic and placed a brown dot at each end.

A few little tiny twinkles as buttons and a rhinestone to make that stethoscope shine and this doctor is ready!

I kept the inside simple using just the left over bits of paper, another Notched Border strip and the Big Greetings Happy Birthday sentiment.

Cheerio.....Leslie

Sweet Sunday Snowdudes - SSSC167

I have totally fallen off the Christmas card wagon - it's been months since I've made one and Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge today (SSSC167) was just the sketch to get me back on track!!

I stamped one of the snowmen from Swanky Snowdudes in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured him with copics.  The great thing about snowmen is they are so fast to colour!

The paper is MME 12 Days of Christmas with some SU Real Red.  I used a couple of MFT die-namics: the Fishtail Flags Stax and the Icicle Border.  I used some nesties to cut him out and added a layer of Star Dust Stickles to the icicle border.  And of course a snowman needs snow, so I added a bit of glitter as his "snow".  

This card came together so quickly that I made 2 more to add to my stash.  I must keep the Christmas card momentum going - it'll be here before you know it!

Cheerio.....Leslie

Meet the Punkins - September SFYTT

It's Saturday and for me, (this month only), that means another card as Jen's Guest Designer for her September Sketch For You To Try!

Halloween is my second favourite time of year.  I absolutely LOVE everything about it - the costumes, the decorations, the colours, the treats (mmm) and of course the pumpkins - all sizes, shapes and colours. Let me introduce The Punkin Family from Kraftin' Kimmie, our sponsor this month!

I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo black ink, coloured the pumpkins with copics and then added some extra shading with OMS and pencil crayons.  I used a green and orange Atyou Spica pens for a touch of glitter on the pumpkins.

I rotated the sketch this time and for a little texture used the swiss dots embossing folder on the largest polka dot paper.  The image seemed a bit stark so I added some clouds I made with the MFT Wonky Scallop Border die-namic.  I cut out a border and placed it randomly, sponging the edge and voila...clouds!  I added some grass but got a little carried away I think!

The paper is perfectly named Happy Halloween from Echo Park and the ribbon and the papers came from TE Fright Night Project Pantry.  I added three dots in the corner and popped up the littlest Punkin for a little dimension.

Of course I had to do the inside and the Open ZigZag die-namic seemed to imitate the pumpkin carvings.

For more inspiration here are the rest of the fabulous SFYTT Sisters:

Amber Hight
Amy Sheffer
Becky Carafa
Carole Burrage
Jen Tapler
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles
Tracy Schultz

I hope you've had time to play along with Jen's sketch this month. 

Cheerio.....Leslie

Bellariffic Friday - Sketch 18

Finally Friday and this week's Stamping Bella Bellariffic Friday was another great sketch from Ebru.  I changed it ever so slightly - making the main rectangle a circle and leaving off the sentiment.  This is for one of my cousins in England - he's not quite this small any more but I'm sure he still loves a party!

I stamped The Birthday Boy (Tiddly Inks) in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured him with copics.

The paper and ribbon is from a TE KI kit.  I used a couple of nesties and embossed the circle one with my Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  The stars are MFT Stacking Stars and I added a big blue Bella Dot in the middle.  His shoes are super shiny thanks to several coats of clear glaze pen and I added just a bit of sparkle to his party hat and presents with my glitter pen.  Happy Birthday!!

Cheerio.....Leslie  

Puppy Love - MFTWSC88

"Abby" is a new little puppy my neighbours just got.  She is cute as a button and all black except for one tiny white mark on her front paw!  I hadn't inked up PI Puppy Girl yet so this was the perfect opportunity.  I used today's MFTWSC88.  I've said it before but I'll say it again....these PI girls make me so happy :)

I stamped PI Puppy Girl in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured her with copics.  I was careful when colouring Abby to leave a tiny bit of white on her front paw

Basic Gray Max & Whiskers is the pattern paper and I free-hand cut the pennant out which wasn't as hard as I thought it would be to get it perfect.  Polka Dots embossing folder gave it a bit of texture and I added some zig-zag sewing on the edges.  The sweet little PI girl is cut out and popped up and I added a few coats of clear glaze pen to her shoes.  Abby really does have a red collar and I added a little bit of sparkle to it - 'cause a girl has to have a bit of bling!  The flower is made with the Pretty Posies die-namic and I wet all the pieces, crumpled them and then dried them and added a big brown button in the middle.  I think the best bit though is that cute little dog bone clip I found and tied to the button - love that!

The inside is done too, using the Fishtail Flags Stax die-namic.

I'm pretty sure Abby's owners will like the card - not sure Abby will think much of it, but I'm sure she's going to like the dog treats I attach to it!

Cheerio.....Leslie

BIG news!

Finally, I can share my exciting news!  Last month I received a comment on one of my cards and then an email from Susan Liles.  Yes, THAT Susan!  She asked me to be the "September Guest Designer of the Month" for "Jen's Sketch For You To Try" (SFYTT)!!!  At first I thought she must be mistaken - me?  A guest designer?  Fortunately she (and Jen) didn't reconsider after all my questions :) and here I am....excited, delighted and honoured to be asked.  As a Canadian, I'm even more excited that the sponsor this month is also Canadian - Kraftin' Kimmie stamps!

This is Jen's Sketch For You To Try for September and there are five Saturdays this month so plenty of time for you to play along.

I love a sketch - I almost can't make a card now without one.  I do like to flip or rotate a sketch but for my first card this month I left it exactly as it was - can't promise that for next week - LOL.

I stamped the oh so classy Lana in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured her with copics.

The pattern paper is MME Lost & Found Madison Avenue paired with some Pretty in Pink and Early Espresso.  I added a crown border layered over some Pretty in Pink satin ribbon and topped each tip with a sparkly rhinestone.  For a bit of texture on the Pretty in Pink layer, I used my Sizzix Flourish Texture plate.  The finishing touch for Lana was lots of glitter on her wrap.

I'm loving doing the insides of cards too, matching up the image and papers.

Here's the rest of the fabulous SFYTT Sisters for more inspiration:

Amber Hight
Amy Sheffer
Becky Carafa
Carole Burrage
Jen Tapler
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles
Tracy Schultz

I had so much fun with this sketch - I hope you'll play along too.

Cheerio.....Leslie