Happy Easter and a Sweet Treat

Happy Easter Everyone!

I hope y'all got to spend the day doing what you love with who you love!  I know I did!  Mass at 730am with a mostly behaved 2 year old (the best she's been in church yet!) and the Annual Easter Egg Hunt was a great success.  The Easter Bunny made it less elaborate than in previous years but the kids had a blast nonetheless!  Especially C3 who actually (somewhat) understood the concept of wandering around the home with a basket looking for eggs this year.  "I see it!" echoed in excited tones from her while her big sisters (with some parental guidance) gave her a chance to find some of the eggs.  Smiles and chocolate were had by all!  Then off to spend the afternoon with family sharing food, fun and more laughter.  Good times!  Truly a blessed day!

Inspired by the festivities today here is a card I made using the Anya Treats Stamp from The Greeting Farm.

I diecut the frame using a Spellbinders die, coloured her with Copics and used an Provocraft embossing folder for the background.  The patterned paper is from my scrap drawer and the sentiment is a chipboard seal from MME.  I used Stickles to add the bling on her hat and the cupcakes.

I would like to submit this to the following challenges:

The Greeting Farm: Embossing

2 Sisters Challenge Blog: Sparkle N Shine

Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Liz

Photo Inspiration at Avery Elle (Part 3)

Hello Everyone!

I'm back.  I hope you're not too sick of me.  I just wanted to show you another card I made for the folks over at Avery Elle and their March 2013 Challenge!  Once again I used thier Lots of Love Stamp set.
I took a very CAS approach to this card (which I find is often a challenge on it's own for me!)

Very simple supply list for this card.  I used Colour Box (Cranberry) and Tsukineko Inks (Pearlescent Sky Blue, and Turquoise), googly eyes and white and blue cardstock.  The wave at the top is punched using a Fiskars border punch.  I also used a touch of Glossy Accents on the heart bubbles.  All the hearts are from the Avery Elle stamp set except the tails which are punched from a corner punch by Martha Stewart.

I love the simple sentiment and heart fishies in this card.  Very simple but super sweet.

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

Photo Inspiration at Avery Elle (Part 2)

Hey Everyone,
I'm back with another card inspired from the photo over at the Avery Elle Blog this month.
For this card I focused on the layout and the colours as well as the 'possibility' thought I had (which often pops into my mind when I see the horizon.  It's like the skies the limit and it's just over there...over the horizon.  Deep).
I had the same Avery Elle stamp set to work with as with my first post.

For this card I used a Provocraft embossing folder (hearts) and a Sizzix folder (woodgrain).  I also re-purposed the Prima Flowers as butterflies and used twine for their body and antennae.

I would like to submit this card to the following challenges:

Avery Elle: March 2013 Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping by!
Liz

Photo Inspiration at Avery Elle (Part 1)

Hey Everyone,

There's a cool challenge I stumbled upon over at the Avery Elle blog.  This month it was based on a photo inspiration. 

I created this card:

I used Sizzix (woodgrain) and Darice (clouds) embossing folders, and an image from Stamping Bella.  I used the taped stamp technique from my last post on the umbrella, dress and pants of the image.  I used Copics for the jacket and the flowers.  The sentiment if from Avery Elle and the heart raindrops are also from the same set.  I used Glossy accents to add a bit of watery shine to the heart-drops.

Here's the photo:

When I first saw this picture I saw the wood texture, the ocean colours and the rain.  I saw peaceful serenity and possibility.  On a technical level I saw a focal point on the right 3rd of the picture and negative space on the left and top third.  With all these in mind and equipped with an Avery Elle: Lots of Love stamp set:

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Avery Elle: March 2013 Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

More Taped Stamps for my 'Hero'

Hey everyone!
Here is another card I made using the funky technique I learned over at A Blog Named Hero (Tape your Stamps).  I knew I would totally get into this easy and fun way to add colour and patterns to your stamped images.  Here is another card I made using an older Hero Arts Stamp set ("4 Dolls") and a semitment from Hero Arts as well.  I only used 3 of the dolls from the stamp set as they reminded me of my own three little cuties.

I masked off the dolls to stamp the flower background.  I used the tape stamp technique on their hair and dresses.  I punched the 3 flowers and then a gem is recessed within them.

I used a colour scheme from March 2013 Hero Arts Challenge.

I would like to add this to the entries over at a Blog Named Hero: Freestyle

Thanks for checking in!
Liz

Kissing Stamps

What can I say.  I'm a whiz!  And I am so very much enjoying this creative marathon!  This next card is based on a stamp kissing technique I learned from Jennifer McGuire from a class I took at Online Card Classes called Inspiration Showcase.  I came across the PDF for this technique and decided to give it a try.  It was super easy and the result leaves you wondering "How'd she do that!?" (At least that's what Jennifer says and I agree!).  The technique has the text look as if it is imbedded within the flourish.  Here is my card.  I like the spring colours and the butterflies and flowers are trying very hard to help this season come along!
 

The "thank you" stamp on the kraft paper is from Hero Arts, the text background stamp used in the flourishes is from Tim Holtz and the flourishes themselves are from Hero Arts.  The butterflies were punched from a Martha Stewart punch, the flower was cut from an EK Success flower punch and the sentiment is from Inkadinkado.

I would like to enter this is the A Blog Named Hero challenge: Freestyle.

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

Warming up to a Blog Named Hero

Hey Everyone,
I'm back!  It must've been at least 4 minutes since I was last here!  I just wanted to add another card I made using a background stamp from Hero Arts (Friend Definition) and a couple stamps from Belles and Whistles (I think- I threw out the packaging in a re-organizing plan gone awry.  Booo).  The sentiment stamp is from Simon Says Stamp.  I white embossed the background stamp on white cardstock and then highlighted parts of it around the chair with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.

I'd like to submit this to A Blog Named Hero: Freestyle

Thanks (again) for checking in!
Liz

I wishy Washi I knew this technique earlier!

Hey Everyone!
So as I was perusing my standard fare of blogs I follow and stumbling upon new blogs that are simply uber cool I came across a really cool technique with Washi tape over at A Blog Named Hero.  Admittedly, I have yet to use this fun new product.  I bought a couple rolls from the clearance bin at Michaels and they've been sitting in a drawer collecting dust....until today.  This technique was so fun and easy I want to go out and jump on the Washi bandwagon.  The ideas were just overflowing in my head!  I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more of this stuff on my projects!  The technique was called "Tape your Stamps" and basically you stamp your picture, apply washi tape over it, and carefully and selectively cut parts of it out to add a cool paper-piecing -like effect.  I used this technique on the Anya Styles stamp from the Greeting Farm.  Here is the final product:

I used Michael's brand (Recollections) washi(craft) tape on her boots, bag, skirt and top.  Since the tape is see-through and easily removed, it's easy to use to add patterns and colour to the stamp.  Basically, you apply washi tape to the area you want covered and then with a fine craft knife you cut away the tape being careful not to cut all the way through the paper.  I used Stickles for the glittery bows and her phone and I coloured with rest of her with Copics.

I used a sketch from "Deconstructed Sketch" (Sketch #94) as the basis for this layout that I put her in.  Here is the sketch:

and here is my layout:

When I saw this picture of me and this Anya Styles stamp it made me laugh at how similar our 'dos were!  I just had to add her to the layout.  The patterned paper is from DCVW, the chicken wire fence stamp is from BoBunny and the lace is from Michaels.  I used an EK success border punch to cut the brown cardstock.  The "Always Genuine" stamp is from Autumn Leaves and the embossing folders used on the pennants are from Provocraft.
I would like to enter this layout in the following contests:

Anyone for Anya: Anything Goes

Deconstucted Sketch Challenge: Sketch#94

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

Papertrey Ink March 2013 Blog Hop

YIKES!  Challenge due today?!  I stumbled upon this awesome blog today and just had to participate.

 So much inspiration and cool stuff here...not to mention Papertrey Ink have some amazing stamps I would love to play with!  As I was reading through the post I realized that their latest challenge is due TONIGHT!  Their challenge is sequins!

How coincidental that I just picked up some sequins from the Michaels bargain bin yesterday.  It was fate.  I must admit...I was a little stumped on how to use these tiny bits of bling on a card but after seeing some of the submissions at this blog I was inspired.  Here's my take.

I used origami to make the dress from DCWV paper.  The background stamp is from Hero Arts.  The die cute dress form is from Tim Hotltz and the sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.  The inside of the card says, "a Fabulous Birthday".  I used sequins on the belt and the bling on the dress.

I was quite surprised how quickly this card came together.  It was like my hands had a mind of their own.  Must be the momentum I've had lately.  YAY!  I hope it keeps up!  Loving the creating!
I'd like to also submit this in the following other challenges:

Simon Says Stamp: Spring/Easter

A Blog Named Hero: Freestyle 
2 Sisters: Easter/Spring
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenges: Bring on Spring
Love to Create Challenge Blog: Pastel Colours

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

More Greeting Farm Goodness

Hello All,
I must admit I'm a bit blown away myself at my motivation these last few days.  Now if only I can channel some of it to organizing the office and sorting out the kids clothes (they grow like weeds!).  Oh well, I'm being productive in some realm of the universe so I won't complain.
Recently I went to a Stampin' Up class hosted by a friend of mine.  We did an easel card that I really liked.   I adapted this concept using some Greeting Farm goodness.  I actually glued the front part on the other side of the fold than is shown above but it still worked out.  The result is cute and functional (just like me)!  This way you can be pretty much guaranteed that it will be enjoyed for at least a year (tee hee!). The butterflies and the bright colours on the Greeting Farm girl (I wish I could remember her name) once again make me wish for spring weather to arrive.

I love love the background stamp from Stampin' Up called En Francais.  So elegant.  The butterflies are Stampin' Up as well.  The sentiment stamp is from Heidi Swapp.  The mini calendar was given to me but you can get them at office supply stores or print up your own from templates online.

Here is a visual from the Greeting Farm Blog.

I would like to submit this to the following challenges:

Anyone for Anya: Anything Goes

The Greeting Farm Blog: Easel Card
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Easter/Spring
One Crazy Stamper: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Liz

Page Maps Giveaway-Just Under the Wire

Hello Everyone!

Boy am I on a roll this weekend!  Wahoo!  I'm a creating machine!  Feels good...but also a little stressed as I started this layout for a sketch contest over at the Page Maps Blog to win some Imaginisce swag but then sort of forgot about it until about an hour ago.  Oooops!  Luckily midnight MST gives me a little more time to complete this over in EST (I hope).  Here's the sketch by the uber talented and inspirational Becky Fleck.

 
 And here is my take on it. 

Lots of crafty goodness going on in this layout.  The tickets are a stamp from MME, the penguins are modified from a Stampin' Up Owl punch, the chevron stamps is from Simon Says Stamps, the fences were die cut from a Tim Holtz die and the pennant flag is a punch from Jenni Bowlin.  I used a Spellbinders die to cut the metal scallop circle from Quickutz and it was embossed using a Provocraft folder.  The pattern paper is Winter Wishes from Echo Park (love the penguins!).

I'd like to enter this in the Page Maps contest as well over at One Crazy Stamper Challenge Blog: Anything Goes.

Thanks again for dropping by!
Liz

Spring-y Layout

Hey Everyone,

I've definitely got spring on the brain this weekend.  Went to a scrapbook store garage sale yesterday and stocked up on some gently used (incredibly awesome) stuff!  I Love how one person's trash is another one's treasure...although I'm sure the people selling their stuff didn't consider it as "trash" but are much better at performing the spring cleaning than I am.  I am such a hoarder dare I say it's bordering on intervention!  But all the more reason to break out the crafting stuff (old and newish-old) and get to creating!  That's what makes me happy!

Here is a layout I made with a Spring feel and Im feeling the warmth overcome me!  C3 is daddy's little girl and this picture of the two of them together makes me melt.  Their sweet little smiles just brightens my day!  The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye-Bluebell collection, the journal stamp is from SeeD's, The mask used for the butterflies is from Prima sprayed with some Tattered Angels Electric Blue Glimmer Mist.  The border punch and butterfly punches are from Martha Stewart.
I'm hoping this will bring some more warmth and goodness over at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog: Spring/Easter and the challenge blog over at One Crazy Stamper:Anything Goes.

Keeping my fingers crossed!

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

Spring and Flowers...At least in my cards

Hello Everyone,

Yup, day 4 of spring has come and gone and although the sun was shining, it's still cold and snowy out there.  Fight harder spring!!!  It's actually quite strange to see.  Over the last couple of days I have been able to actually see winter and spring battle it out with the local skies as their battlefield.  One moment the skies are blue and the sun is shining.  I'm driving around with the sunglasses on and feeling some sunny warmth on my face through the windshield and then the next moment, the clouds are filling the sky and snow starts falling and accumulating on the ground....only to have spring retaliate with the sun again and melting the new snow away.  I swear this cycle happens several times throughout the day.  Weird.
The family did Earth Hour tonight (Saturday) and it was fun!  We were at the grandparents for dinner and my girlies had a great time lying on a blanket in their solarium using binoculars to check out the planes flying overhead, singing pop songs and changing up the lyrics to funny ones and just being together.  My 2 year old was apparently moon powered tonight as the lights out phenomenon only served to fuel some hyper behaviour (more that ususal if you can beleive that!)  Good times.

At least there is some flowers and spring happening in some of my creations this week.
This one is using a Greeting Farm Anya Summer Stamp. The sunglasses made me think of me driving around this week when the sun was shining.  I'm hoping I can really help Spring out with some added sunshine power.  The butterflies are a Martha Stewart punch and the sentiments are from Autumn Leaves.  I would like to submit this to this weeks Double Take Tuesday challenge: Flowers over at the Greeting Farm blog and Anyone for Anya: Anything Goes!

This next card uses a sweet Whimsy Stamps image.  These stamps are just so cute!  The bunches of flowers she's holding and the colours are definately routing for spring to come.  I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

One Crazy Stamper: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Spring/Easter

Thanks for dropping by!
Liz

Jumpstart on Spring

Hey Everyone!

Snow again today!  Enough to blanket the ground but really I'm not surprised.  It ALWAYS snows around my birthday (April 21) so having snow today isn't so bad.  At least I don't have to commute in it anymore.  That's a definite plus.  What does bug me a bit is that the local ski hill has already closed their doors for the season.  Booo!  Can't make the most of this snowy goodness.
Anyways, here is a little something my 6 year old daughter made this weekend for a birthday party she went to.  She was sooooo excited to dive into my stash of Greeting Farm stamps and she couldn't decide which one she wanted to put on the card so she put as many as she could make fit (and had time to colour).  Believe it or not she actually made this card all by herself!  She worked so hard and had tonnes of fun!  I helped with getting the supplies out but she coloured, stamped, embossed (okay so I helped with the heat gun), cut and rolled through the Cuttlebug all on her own.  Not to mention cleaned up afterward!  That was the best part!

I'd like to enter this in this week's The Greeting Farm's Double Take Tuesday Challenge: Flowers.  Definitely no flowers on the ground in these parts but hopefully this will put a jumpstart on the process!

Stay Warm everyone!   Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

For the Boys

Hey All,

This past week was March Break for my big girls and hubby also took the week off.  I can't believe how fast it went by!  We headed to the hills on the Monday-Tuesday and the big girls practiced their snowboarding/skiing skills.  They improved so much with every run!  I'm soooo proud of them!  It's like I always say...if you're going to live in Canada, you've GOT to enjoy the snow.  No sense being miserable for 1/4 of the year.  I'm even happier now that we've got this new family favourite to share!  YAY!  My sister came down to spend some time on Thursday and Friday.  We spent alot of that time shopping (my sister wanted to take the big girls shopping to congratulate them on a good mid-term report card).  Target just opened up in my neck of the woods and we decided to go see what all the hype was about now that they've crossed the border.  I've been to a Target a couple times in the US.  I was quite disappointed at the prices and selection they had in the Target here.  There was no craft section and the storage section was very dismal.  Not impressed.  I'm hoping they're still just getting their feet wet and soon they'll actually dive in with the good stuff.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Sooooo....onto some creative goodness!  Boys do not tend to be a popular theme at my home but I decided to take on the "Retro Fresh All About the Boys" challenge this week over at The Greeting Farm Blog.

This card I made using a Greeting Farm stamp: Edward.  The gear background embossing folder is from Provocraft called clockworks.  The die cut gears is from Spellbinders (Sprightly Sprockets), the sentiment is from Simons Says Stamp and the patterned paper is from MME.

I paper pieced his shirt and pants.  His pants are from a piece of natural coloured canvas I coloured brown using a copic marker.  I used Glossy Accents on the "you" and his shoes to add some shine.

 The based the layout of this card on a sketch from the Simon Says Stamp Challenge this Week: Choose a Sketch.

I decided to flip the sketch in the horizontal plane and used it that way.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge this Week: Choose a Sketch.

One Crazy Stamper: Anything Goes 

The Greeting Farm: Retro Fresh All About the Boys

The Greeting Farm: Sparkle and Shine

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Body Swap...and a Colour Challenge

Hey Everyone,

Like I said, March is a big month for birthdays around here.  Here is a card I made for a friend of mine who celebrates today!  I was keeping with the brown and blue colour challenge over at The Greeting Farm Challenge Blog Double Take Tuesday.  I loved the comfy couch in the Sitting Casual set but I wanted the sitter to be a Ruby.  Sooooo....I did a body swap.  I used the body on the boy that came with the Sitting Casual Set and then used Ruby's head.  I got this idea from Jo over at the Greeting Farm Blog.  It really gives you even more ways to use your stamps!  Super Cool!

Ruby's little shirt was made from a piece of fabric I had that I loved which I thought would add a little splash to the blue and brown.  The "absolutely" was die cut from a Simon Says Stamp die and the sentiment is also from Simon Says Stamp. 

Thanks for dropping by!
Liz

Bit O' Green (Part 2)

Here is card 2 for Simon Says Stamp Bit O' Green Challenge.

This card started from a card map I got from CardMaps 2 book.  I used paper from my scrap stash.  The castle is from a Quickutz die, the butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch and the label is an EK Success punch.  I love the whimsical feel of this card and all the pretty colours.

Bit O' Green...

Hey Everyone!

So, my 2 year old crawled out of her crib a couple nights ago.  She did it so stealthily.  I heard her crying (I was 2 rooms away in the office) and I tip-toed over to her room and opened the door super slowly to check in on her.  She's been waking up every couple of nights between 11 and midnight crying but manages to fall back asleep on her down within a couple minutes.  When I peered into her room through the tiny crack in the door way the door swung open and there she was!  She pulled the door open and stood there teary eyed asking to be picked up!  Freaked me out!  I didn't hear a single sound prior to her crying.  No loud bang or creak or rattle...nothing.  And we have hardwood floors so it's not the easiest thing to conceal such sounds.   Growing too fast I tell ya!  Although, her being the absolute monkey of my 3 kids at this age-climbing anything and everything she can-I'm surprised it took her this long to climb out of her crib.  C1 climbed out just before her 1st birthday and C2 climbed out around 18months.  I guess she was due.  :/

Meanwhile, as it turns out, March is quite the busy, busy month for birthdays around here!  Just in time for Simon Says Stamps Newest Challenge: Bit 'O Green.  Here are a couple cards I made that fit this bill (see next post for card 2)!  They are cards I made for my friends' daughters.  The sweeties are little ones in kindergarten so I made them colourful and full of pretty patterns and fun (and a bit 'o green)!

This card came together super fast.  I used scrap paper from my stash and square punched them with a scalloped punch.  Then I cut the squares from each corner to almost the middle and folded down alternating corners.  They are secured to the middle with some glue and a jewel brad.  The stamp is from Hampton Arts and the letters stickers are from Making Memories.  The embossing folder in the back is from Provocraft.

Thanks for dropping by!
Liz

4 Birds/One Stone-Woo Hoo!

Hey Everyone,

The sun is shining bright in my neck of the woods today...deceiving...it's bitter cold out there!  At least it was warm in my little craft room with creative juices flowing! I really should be tidying up around here!  took some time off work to try and de-clutter the house and clean out the basement (which is reaching intervention proportions!) in hopes to get it all finished down there...later.  Right now I'd like to share with you a little creation I made that happens to fulfill 4 challenge blogs out there!  Wowzers!  New for me but hopefully not a rare occurance!  I LOVE getting inspiration in all the corners of the interweb and having it all get the creativity in gear!  Shout out to all those blogs out there that stimulate this!
I was driving to the grandparents with my C3 this morning and they wanted to keep her for the day!  (who am I to deny them seeing their granddaughter!)  Perfect opportunity to get stuff done!  In the traffic jam I encountered on the highway on the way home the concept for the colouring of this stamp popped into my head.  I wasn't sure if it was possible but thought it would be pretty cool if it worked.  Let me know what y'all think!  I like the abstractness of it.  It's different that's for sure!  This is the Greeting Farm Stamp I used.  I'm hoping you can make it out...but just in case....

I stamped the Angel Anya Greeting Farm stamp with vintage sepia ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.   (I originally tried this with no embossing and it didn't turn out quite so well.  It was difficult to make out the image.)  Then with a pencil I lightly traced a curvy checkerboard pattern over the image then then coloured the alternating spaces with brown and blue Chromatix markers by American Crafts.  It's important to have markers with a fine tip and these worked perfect!  The flourish is from a Bo Bunny clear stamp set, the sentiments are from Simon Says Stamp, the background stamp is from Hero Arts and the die is from Spellbinders.  The hat pin is from the clearance section at Michaels and I added the pennant and the brad is from Making Memories).  

I would like to submit this card in the following challenges:

The Greeting Farm Double Take Tuesday: Colour Challenge-Blue and Brown

Cardabilities: Sketch Challenge #70

A Blog Named Hero: Make Your Own (stamped sentiment ribbons)

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

New Challenge Blog on the Block-Sister Act

Hey All,

There's a new card challenge blog on the block over at Sister Act and they are looking for their inaugural design team!  Yahoo!  Who doesn't want to be a part of that!  I know I'm on the prowl and if there are any others of you out there interested here's your chance!  Head on over to their blog:  Sister Act Design Team Call and check it out!

As for me...I'd like to share with you a few more cards in hopes to land me an amazing opportunity.  Here are a few cards that I have made recently but have not been posted before.  I wanted to give the ladies over at Sister Act some never before seen cards that I am proud of.

The Penguin stamp from this card is from Kraftin Kimmie.  The hat, feet and mug were coloured with Copics.

The above Christmas card was made using the step fold.  I love the adorable penguin which is a stamp from Wild Rose Studio.  Penguins are a huge fave at my home.

This last card I am also going to submit over at A Blog Named Hero for their current challenge: Just Make Your Own since the center medallion embellie was made using a stamp.

The above card was made using the amazing Tim Holtz Distress inks and some Perfect-Pearls-laced-water to add the bling.  The medallion in the middle of the card was born out of a piece of regular card stock covered with 4 layers of silver embossing power and Versamark ink heated with a heat gun in between layers.  Before the last layer cooled I stamped the snowflake using jet black StazOn ink to give it that debossed look.

Now since they only wanted 3 cards for my submission here they are...however, there are a few more that I've already posted that I feel very proud of. I'd like to give an honourable mention to those cards here, and here and here!  Also...since anything goes is the theme over at Simon Says Stamp challenge blog this week.   I'm going to submit these over there as well in hopes of earning some cool stuff!

Thanks for dropping by!

Wish me luck! (and good luck to you as well!)

Liz