Birthday Wish

I have birthdays on the brain right now. I have several friends and family members with birthdays this time of year. In fact, today is my grandmother's birthday. I am so grateful that she (and my grandpa) are a part of our lives. My children spend the morning with them until they go to school... their great-grandparents. How wonderful, don't you think? With grandma's health issues in the recent past (doctors found a brain aneurysm that was treatable with non-invasive surgery = miracle), I'm glad we're celebrating. It makes my heart light to think about it.

So, I have a fun birthday card to share with you.

The card base is Bashful blue, with all the designer papers by Cosmo Cricket (Storytime). I used a new set by Kitchen Sink Stamps called Happy Birthday Cupcake, which will be released on December 3rd. It's a very versatile set, perfect for quick cards, paper piecing, you name it. I stamped the circle in Certainly Celery on shimmery white cardstock. The central cupcake is stamped in black and colored with copic markers. I added a bit of glimmer to the icing and candle with Copic Spica glitter pens. It's cut out (a small scallop edge) and popped up with dimensional tape. I used the corner ticket punch to give the striped panel a bit of the circular design and inked edges. I added the little sentiment in black - because who doesn't want their birthday wish to come true? The ribbon completed the fun... really simple.

I will be making more cards with this set, so check back soon!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

It's a Party!!!

So, I eluded to it in yesterday's post, but I have the details for you now. It's a party to celebrate sweet Ms. Lisa's birthday - her 30th birthday!!! Lisa has been posting projects on her blog (Mona Lisa Moments) all week to give us all previews of her latest releases - new wonderful backgrounders. Stop by to get an idea of the gorgeous creations she has in store for us.

I should have mailed individual invites for the party... OK, that's darn funny! I'm lucky to send anything in the mail, much less hundreds of any one thing...

Instead, Here are the details:

Where: CHF forums
When: December 1st
Time: 10AM EST-10PM EST

There will be games, goodies and tons of fun. So please stop by. And I promise, no RSVP is needed!

In honor of Ms. Lisa, I thought I'd post a preview of my own - birthday themed:

Quilted Poppies

The card base is a ruby red cardstock. I inked in a ruby red and stamped off the End Diamond Backgrounder (release on Dec. 1st) before stamping on the matte layer. To give added texture to this layer, I scored on the diagonal to give a quilted look, before sponging with a tan ink. The Poppies stamp was colored with Copic markers and die cut with Rectangle Nestabilities. I didn't have any ruby red ribbon (I'm gonna need this I think... love this color right now)... but I colored white grosgrain ribbon with my matching Copic marker. The sentiment is from the Tag You're It set, stamped within the longest tag. The tag is a tad too long for this word grouping, so I drew in a new end point with a micron pen and trimmed.

So... can I count on you joining us Saturday? Whohoo!!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

------------------------------

Supplies:
Stamps all CHF: Poppies, End Diamond Backgrounder, Tag! You're It set for sentiment and tag

Paper: Ruby red, green, white, and tan cardstock

Ink: Pitch Black by Ranger, ruby red, tan, and brown

Accessories: Classic and Scallop Rectangles Nestabilities from Ellen Hutson LLC, Gold cord and eyelet, setter, White grosgrain ribbon, Scoring tool, copic markers.

My Challenge...

Last weekend, I decided that I needed to take stock of my designer paper and actually USE some of it. I'm pretty good about it most of the time, but I LOVE designer paper... so I have a ton of it. *** SHHH... don't tell my husband. ***

So, I challenged myself to use some. I love all papers by Basic Grey, so cracked into my stash of Fruitcake (the only time you'll hear me say that phrase is when it applies to paper - LOL!). I know it's Christmas paper, but the fun stripes fit for other themes.

I followed the Sketch on Splitcoaststampers - SC151. It's a perfect, go-to favorite layout option... so here it is. I added a bit of texture with the sewing machine and made a matching bottlecap pin (such a fun and fast project in and of itself - you must try it).

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

p.s. BTW - before I forget, I have a few quick notes for you:

1. If you haven't stopped by the incomparable Lisa Strahl's blog (Mona Lisa Moments) lately, please do! She's featuring sneak peeks on her soon to be released backgrounders on CHF. Her projects are amazing and the backgrounders will have you emptying your wallets. I know I have a HUGE wish list now.

2. The big countdown for the Backgrounder release is Dec. 1st - Lisa Strahl's birthday!!! Keep your eyes open for more details about the fun that CHF has planned.

3. CHF also has a Referral Program. I thought I'd posted on this before, but my aging mind forgot. Check out Liz Pomeroy's description HERE. <--- Link is active. She has it all spelled out for you. I promise to post all the details for you too later this week.

---------------------------------

Supplies:Stamps: Pretty Birds

Paper: Light blue, light green, Fruitcake by Basic Grey, white cardstocks

Ink: Pitch Black

Accessories: bottle cap, pin clasp, Ranger Glossy Accents, Sizzix, Copic markers and colored pencils, corner rounder punch by EK Success, sewing machine, gold brads (I used the red Copic marker to make them candy red)

Birthday Blooms

I am in AWE! If you haven't seen the 3-Step Daisy set by Kitchen Sink Stamps, you are missing out! It's an amazing set. I love the layered color and depth of design you can achieve with it.

I did a quick card tonight with it. It's a simple card, with ribbon as the only embellishment. I know... I didn't use a brad! Shocking, isn't it?

The card base is Ruby Red with the matte from Wild Asparagus designer paper. What wasn't really captured with my camera is that the dots in the designer paper are actually a celery green and match the leaves perfectly. The neutral cardstocks are shimmery Poison Ivory cardstock, Creamy Caramel and Chocolate chip. I really loved how this completed and that I could make a fast card.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

---------------------

Supplies:

Stamps: 3-Step Daisy set by Kitchen Sink Stamps

Paper: Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip - SU, Poison Ivory cardstocks

Ink: Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Old Olive

Accessories: White grosgrain ribbon

Did you Gobble Until You Wobbled?

So, did everyone have a fabulous Thanksgiving? I did! We had a day full of fabulous food and family. I ate WAY too much! I still wobble!

I'm so thankful for living close to my family. I get to see them whenever I want. But, it's wonderful to share a meal and tradition.

I made this card and forgot to post this in time, but I love the image so much I had to share with you today.

The turkey stamp and Gobble sentiment are from Cornish Heritage Farms - it was the Stamp of the Month last month. I really love how Kim Hughes drew this cheeky little turkey. He knows he won't be the main course... he's just a little too slim! LOL!!!

The card was a super quick one. I used a small piece of cardstock that had been stamped with the Reverse Dot Backgrounder in tan ink that matched the cardstock. I stamped the turkey on Georgia Pacific white cardstock in Pitch Black ink by Ranger, inked with a base color from my Copic markers and highlighted with colored pencils. Finishing touches to the card are the striped May Arts ribbon, the sentiment popped out with the key tag punch, and Ranger Glossy Accents on the eyes and feathers.

Keri Lee Sereika (the CHF Director of Education) wrote a tutorial in the CHF Forums on Bottle Cap Pins ---> HERE. I HAD to try this. My first attempt was this fun little turkey. The supplies needed are:

Bottle cap

Sizzix or hammer / boards for flattening the cap

Heat gun

Ranger Glossy Accents

1" circle punch

stamps, paper, coloring media

Pin Clasp

Hot glue gun (optional) - you can also use the glossy accents to adhere the pin clasp to the back

I won't repeat the full tutorial here, but please check out Keri's wonderful directions. These are really easy to do. If you make one, be sure to let me know. I'd love to see what you created!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

More Love from the Kitchen!

So, if you couldn't tell yet, I've been in a rush to create holiday cards this year. I've really been meaning to have them done by now, but I've had other projects I just HAD to do first. But, I've been slowly collecting cards that are perfect for my close friends and family - a mix of simple, elegant and kicked up cards!

For both of these cards, I used stamp sets from Kitchen Sink Stamps.

Retro Ornaments:

The primary set used for this card is the Background & Borders set by Kitchen Sink Stamps. Now, the card looks complicated, but it went together fairly fast.

The card base is white cardstock with a little pink dye ink sponged onto the edges (this is all retro, remember - LOL). The background matte is Certainly Celery cardstock with the same color diamonds stamped on it. Then, I stamped various patterns of the backgrounds on white cardstock - like the small swirls in Certainly Celery dye ink, multiple colors for the stripes, Real Red and Pretty in Pink diamonds. These scraps were used to decorate my ornament shapes.

To create the ornaments, I used my oval Coluzzle template to partially cut ovals, leaving the bottom portion uncut. With a pencil, I freehanded the pointed bottoms and cut out with my precision scissors. I used a sanding block to even out any imperfections. I added a bit of foil (glued to paper scraps for stability) for the tops of the ornaments and added a jump ring for that authentic look. The Coluzzle made another appearance for the circle ornament - and the sentiment strip. The sentiment is from the new set, Never a Loss 4 Words - to be released on Dec. 3rd. Stay tuned for more samples with this set. It's amazing!

Gifts:

This card was super simple.

The card base is Real Red with a matte of Kraft cardstock. I used the Backgrounds & Borders set again to create "wrapping paper" designs, on shimmery white and Garden Green cardstocks. With the Classic Rectangle Nestabilities I purchased from Ellen Hutson's store, I cut out the gifts and embossed. The third gift is a rectangle gift bag out of Creamy Caramel cardstock with hemp twine handles. It's adhered with dimensional tape and has a sprig of tissue behind it. The sentiment and the gift ribbon are from the 3 Step Holly & Mistletoe set. The final touch to the card was the shadows inked under the packages to give some grounding to the image. Overall, a very fun card.

I hope you enjoyed these projects. I had a blast making them. I will have some new KSS stamps this week and projects posted. The next release will be December 3rd... so cool!

Thanks for stopping by,
Lisa

Holly

This card falls into the quick category for me. The set is the 3-Step Holly and Mistletoe set by Kitchen Sink Stamps - a Holiday favorite of mine!

The card base is Ruby Red by SU with a matte of Fruitcake designer paper. The central image - the large Holly Leaves - was stamped with Creamy Caramel, Certainly Celery and Old Olive. The center berries were stamped in Creamy Caramel and Ruby Red (first kissed off for the second layer and full-force for the top layer). I added some random highlights to the leaves with a white gel pen.

The sentiment (not yet released - so it's a sneak...) is from Never a Loss 4 Words was stamped in Chocolate Chip on Kraft paper. The paper was faux stitched - my trusty mat pack, paper piercing tool and white gel pen. A quick button finished the card.

I didn't realize until I was typing my description that I didn't use ribbon on this card. **Gasp** To be honest, when making a stack of holiday cards, I try to limit supplies a bit so it's not so costly to create and mail. I'm adding this design to my stack for easy duplication!

Who knows, I may get all my cards done in time this year! LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa

Smooches...

Since Christmas is just around the corner, I would normally have my cards all ready... just waiting for my darling kiddos' pictures. But... not so this year. It's been a crazy year. One minute we're planning summer vacation, the next we're planning Christmas gifts. Sheesh!

So this card is a quick one I'd like to share with you.

The card base is olive green, with a layer of holly cardstock from the Basic Grey Fruitcake line – a line of stitching added to anchor the layer. When I make a mass of these (which WILL happen), I plan to eliminate the stitching for speed.

The mistletoe image is a 3-step stamp by Kitchen Sink Stamps - 3 Step Holly and Mistletoe; light tan ink as the base and two shades of green on shimmery cream cardstock build the mistletoe. The red ribbon (center) was stamped, trimmed and added with dimensional tape. Additional highlights to the stamped image were added with a white gel pen. The central image was cut out with rectangle Nestabilities and while the die was still in place, I sponged light brown ink towards the mistletoe image, leaving the edge of the rectangle unlinked. It is mounted on a scallop of ruby red cardstock.

I didn’t have ruby red ribbon, so I dyed white grosgrain ribbon by coloring with a Copic marker to match (great trick!). The ribbon was threaded around the holly cardstock. A quick addition of the striped ribbon and a few brads finish the card.

I think typing the description took longer than it did to make this card. But isn't it pretty? I know I'll be making a stack of these for this holiday! Simple elegance.

Thank you,

Lisa

Just Because I Wanna...

I needed a sympathy card. I never like to make sympathy cards for the obvious reason. But, there's strength in something as simple as a card. It's the outreach to a friend, family member or acquaintance... that you are thinking of them in their moment of sadness and loss.

So, while I had my inks and paper out for the JBWW Challenge, I made this quick card.

I used Stampin' Up Classic dye ink in Basic Grey - which is a really wonderful color - like black when stamped off... but richer. OK, not well described, but I think you get the gist. Nice color.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

-------------------------

Supplies:

Stamps: Silhouette Blooms I, Petite Pattern Backgrounder by CHF

Ink: Real Red, Basic Black, and Basic Grey Classic Dye Ink by SU

Paper: White cardstock by Georgia Pacific, Basic Black by SU

Accessories: Ticket Corner punch, 5/8" grosgrain red ribbon, pewter brads

Have you given up on me?

Hi! I swear, I've been stamping. I just have been on a kick to get things submitted. So, I promise to have a few things to share with you soon.

I did happen to see Jeanne and Sherrie's Challenge today... Just Because We Wanna (JBWW). The challenge was to make a black and white card with a splash of color. These are TOUGH. I think the main image really has to be stunning to pull this off.


So... I gave it a shot.
This Santa Portrait is amazing, isn't it? I love the detail. He looks so life-like and stamping it in black and white is perfect. I purchased him from Stamp Francisco about a month ago and have just inked him today. What was I waiting for?!?!?

The card base was stamped with the Petite Pattern Backgrounder by CHF. The splash of color came from my Kitchen Sink Stamps - holly, which I trimmed with precision scissors and added with a dimensional. The greeting is also from the KSS 3 Step Holly and Mistletoe set. I added a quick bit of grosgrain ribbon and completed the card. To get the ribbon to lay in a flowing manner, I adhered it in several spots with mini-glue dots. I saw this on the fabulous Sharon Johnson's blog (No Time to Stamp?).

Thanks for hanging with me... I promise to post again soon,

Lisa

Simple.. or is it?!?

I recently joined a share for metal sheets by my friend Sencie (her blog is amazing, by the way ---> Serving the King). I was too intrigued to pass this up. I have to admit that I've used tin before in my stamping... heavy duty foil, double thick... and it still ripped. I thought I'd try these metal sheets to see how they work.

I'm really glad I did. The card came together so quickly!!!

Here it is:

The metal layer was embossed with the textile Cuttlebug folder. To give the silver tin a "less shiny" appearance, I used Ranger alcohol inks (Currant, Butterscotch and Meadow). Once this was dry (a few minutes to loose the tacky feeling), I dabbed Wheat VersaMagic ink over to highlight the design.

The stamped image is from the Kitchen Sink Stamps (3-Step Holly and Mistletoe). I added a bit of Fruitcake designer paper, ribbon loops and a couple of brads.

Simple! And yet, I think it looks pretty kicked up, don't you?!?!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

Kitchen Sink - A Card for you!

Hello! While all the Design Team from Kitchen Sink Stamps have been creating up a storm, I've been waiting on our lovely postal service to get my kit to me. While I'm not always a patient person, there's just nothing you can do...

So, I hope you don't mind that I'm catching up a bit with the crew and just posting a card today.

The card base is Old Olive cardstock, with panels of Basic Grey Fruitcake, and scallop panels in teal. The stamped image was created with the Holly 3-step stamps to build a wreath. I used a circle punched out of a post-it note to give me a working base for a circular shaped wreath. I stamped the ribbon separate, trimmed it out, and popped it up for dimension.

The card is a Gatefold card. The central image has a scalloped square matte that had been cut and embossed from my Nestabilities set.

Anyway... I hope you like this card. The set (3 Step Holly & Mistletoe) is truly gorgeous! I can see that I'll get a lot of use out of it!

Thanks for looking,

Lisa

------------------------------------

Supplies:

Stamps: 3 Step Holly & Mistletoe

Paper: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Taken with Teal, White GP cardstock, Fruitcake by Basic Grey

Ink: All VersaMagic (Leaves: #1 Wheat, #2 Tea Leaves, #3 Hint of Pesto; Berries: #1 Red Magic, #2 Red Brick, #3 Wheat; Ribbon: #1 Aspen Mist, #2 Sea Breeze, #3 Ocean Depth)

Accessories: Ribbon, copper brads, Nestabilities

New CHF Release

ETA: I removed the posted card in this blog addition, as I've been lucky enough to have it selected for publication. Kim Hughes, artist and designer extraordinaire at CHF, graciously allowed us to use her Out for Publication sign. Thanks Kim!


So... are you ready to be enabled?!?!?! Kim Hughes, artist for CHF, has completely outdone herself with several new stamps sets. They will be released tomorrow and are amazing.

As a quick peak, I have a quick card for you...

I've been using the Silhouette Blooms I set for the last week and loving every minute of it. I think you can create elegant, detailed cards to the simple.

This card is a base of Poison Ivory cardstock, mounted on Prism Razzleberry Dark. The poison ivory cardstock has a window cut out and embossed, using Classic Circle Nestabilities from Ellen Hutson's store. I'm a bit stuck on this color combo lately, but I really love how it came together. The inks used were Adirondack Raisin, Oregano and Butterscotch... Pitch Black for the sentiment. A page pebble covers the lower right hand corner element.

Here's a peak inside the card... very simple, really.

Thanks for stopping by... I'll have more on the new CHF sets tomorrow. Or better yet, run on over to CHF to see all the wonderful sets available - November 6th.

Lisa

Ellzybells Art Stamps!

I fell in love... These darling little stamps have stolen my heart!

I created a set of quick cards, that grouped together are sweet as can be!!!

Each card was created from an Arturo watercolor notecard. I used my Nestabilities dies (from Ellen's store ---> HERE) to emboss on the notecard - either a scallop rectangle or the classic rectangle. I saw this on Debbie Olsen's blog (she's what I want to be when my stamping evolves!!!).

I stamped the girls with Pitch Black Adirondack ink and colored with copics. A tidge of glitter from the spicca pens and a swiped of white gel pen highlights the cards. I quick hole punch and threading ribbon and the cards were finished.

Sledding by...

Pucker Up!
Lights of the HolidaysThanks for stopping by!

Lisa

For SomeBirdy Special

This is another "scrappy" project for me. While I can honestly say it's not my usual style... I like making projects like this. It's a bit liberating!!!

The tag base was made with Autumn Leaves Splendor adhesive mat paper, which I found at Target with the scrapbook supplies. The paper has a fairly heavy feel to it, because it's basically a 4" x 6" sticker. I left the backing on the main tag, but I'm thinking this might be really convenient if I use this on a gift and don't want it to fall off.

I used my trusty Coluzzle and oval template to cut the done on the top. I stamped the pretty little bird, her nest and branch on scrap paper and colored with pencils. I added two other layers (a strip of sentiment and a strip of decorative design) by removing the sticker backing. Worked perfectly!!! After hand-lettering the FoR in a similar handwriting to Ms. Kim Hughes, I added this on top of the other strips. An eyelet and twill tape finishes the tag. Really fast project!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

---------------------------
Supplies:Stamps; Pretty Birds (KH Collection)

Paper: Autumn Leaves Splendor Adhesive Mats (this will be a great way to make a tag and use it... it will stick on the package!!!), Poison Ivory Shimmery cardstock

Ink: Brilliance Coffee Bean Ink and Staedtler Pigment ink pen in brown

Accessories: colored pencils, Making Memories large eyelets and setter, Coluzzle and oval template (for cutting the top of the tag)

Silhouette Blooms

I have always been a sucker for a flower stamp set. I think I own every one ever made (and that's only a slight dramatization!!!). LOL!

And even with that said, I think this set is one of the most beautiful ones I've ever seen. Kim Hughes, one of CHF's artists, has extended her collection of stamps to include some amazing flower images... which I was very lucky to be showcasing. I have a project that I'd like to share with you tonight as a little preview of the release next week - Tuesday, November 6th to be exact.

I had already decided on the colors to use when I happened to stumble on the Basic Grey designer paper - Perhaps - that looked custom made for this stamp set. It was PERFECT!!! I created this card quickly by stamping on vellum, heating to dry, and layering on a scallop rectangle.

Note: To create the scallop rectangle, I used my new Nestabilities that I
purchased from Ellen Hutson's store. The link is active HERE. If you're on the fence about purchasing these dies, let me tell you, they are amazing! They are a value, in comparison to punches and are space-saving to boot! I use my Cuttlebug to cut and emboss. If you need a good reference for how to use the Spellbinder's Nestabilities with a die-cutting system, please see this entry of Ellen's blog ---> HOW TO.

I kept the rectangle die on the matte and sponged Butterscotch ink on the edges, going lighter to the center for a spotlight effect.

To pair with this card, I painted a slide mailer, decorated with more Perhaps BG paper and created slides. The inserts between the slides are two layers of vellum, a flower stamped on each one to give a soft background.

Here's a view of the inside of the mailer:

I was really happy with how this completed... it all just fit.

And I'm in love with this set! Keep your eyes open with the other CHF team's preview the next few days.

Thanks for stopping by,

Lisa

--------------------------------------

Supplies:

Paper: Cryogen white shimmery paper by CutCardStock.com, Prism Sunflowers Dark paper, Basic Grey Perhaps designer paper and vellum cardstock

Stamps: Silhouette Blooms I

Inks: Adirondack inks in Butterscotch, Raisin, Oregano and Pitch Black

Accessories: Scallop and Classic Rectangle Nestabilities from Ellen Hutson LLC, gold cord, brads, ivory organdy ribbon, hat pin