Recycled, Re-used & Getting Jingle-y

I will be the first to admit I'm not the best at re-purposing my supplies/scraps to make another card, so this week's challenge at the Jingle Belle blog had me kind of, ummm, lost?

But, I was not about to let our lovely Guest Star Kathe D. down!! She had this fabby idea for Earth Day & even though I'm cutting it close, I knew I had to participate. Please check out her Flickr gallery and see all her wonderful craftiness.

I started out by digging through my recycle bag (I live in California...we HAVE to recycle. In fact, our recycle "trash" can is 3 times larger than our regular trash can. No lie!). I dug out some "green" bubble wrap (it's recyclable), a plastic thing that formerly housed my new power cord for my laptop, and some cardboard from the 6-pack of yogurt. Score! 3 things to use for my card? Coolio! Now how would I use them? In such a short time? ACK!! Here's what I did:

I took a pic of the supplies, too! :)

So there ya have it! A thoroughly Recycled Reindeer card. Woo Hoo!

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock - Naturals White, Kraft (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Archival Ink - Coffee (Ranger)
Stamps: Bells & Boughs (Stampin' Up)
Die-cutting/Embossing: Reindeer Flight (Tim Holtz Alterations/Sizzix), Framed Greetings Die-Namic (My Favorite Things)
Accessories: Gold, Pearl, White Adirondack Acrylic Paint (Ranger), Twine, Gold Cord (Stampin' Up), Tissue Tape,Tiny Attacher (Tim Holtz Idealology).
Recycled Bits: Plastic packaging from Laptop power cord, bubble wrap, and cardboard from 6 pack of yogurt.}

All my best,

Blessed Easter

Wishing you all the happiest and most blessed Easter. (Even if you DON'T celebrate!) I hope you know how very cherished all of you are and I hope you know all the joys that this day brings.

{Supplies:
Cardstock: White (Gina K Designs)
Ink: Embossing Distress Ink, Pumice Stone Distress Ink (Ranger), Embossing powder - gold (Stampin Up)
Stamps: Crosses of Hope (Stampin Up), Mega Mixed Messages (PTI)
Die-cutting/Embossing: Petite Oval/scalloped petite oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Leafy Branch Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Provocraft)
Coloring Medium: Copics (.Too)}


All my best,

The Jingle Belles are to "Die" For

I use dies a LOT. I'm breaking out all sorts of dies (Die-Namics, Nestabilities, die-cuts) on almost every project that I make. They add a certain depth to what I make that just regular 'ol stamping just can't achieve.  So, this week's prompt over on the Jingle Belle's blog was right up my alley:

"Create a Christmas card to die (cut) for! This week we're featuring *DIECUTS* in our cards."

SWEET!!

The Jingle Belles Guest Belle of the week is the super sweet June Houck of Simply Elegant Papercrafts and DT Member for Betty Bee's Buzz. I love June's card so much this week. You should absolutely check out her blog to see what she created. You'll swoon, for sure!

So, you'll think I went NUTS with die-cuts, right? Well, sort of. ;) They're just not HUGE! ;) There are SIXTEEN die-cuts on my card. But 15 of them aren't that obvious. Kind of small, really. ;) Take a look:

Whatcha think? I love that bunny on his little sled sooooo much!!

So each teeny piece of that banner? Yep, a individual die-cut! Took me for...ev...AH!!! But, totally adorable, isn't it? It has more pieces, but seriously the thought of cutting more made my mind scramble. HAHHA! Especially after coloring and cutting the bunny, too. :) There's lots of shimmery on this card, too, which *sigh* AGAIN...you really can't see. Stickles, etc. Just imagine it, okay? :D

Hope you like it and it makes you smile!

Happy Tuesday! xoxo


{Supplies:
Cardstock: White (Gina K Designs), Red (Scrap), Patterned Paper - Wintertime (Echo Park)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Stamps: Winter Bunny (Lawn Fawn), Typewriter Alphabet (My Favorite Things)
Die-Cutting: Fish-Tail Banner, Zig-Zag Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
Accessories: Maraschino baker's twine (The Twinery), Glossy Accents, Stardust Stickles (Ranger), Liquid Applique (Marvy), Copic Markers (.Too), Clear Star Gelly Roll Pen (Sakura)}


All my best,

Daisy Girl - MFTWSC15

I finally made another card for My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Club!! YAY!! I've been wanting to make another card for this group for such a long time. I love MFT. *sigh* I really do.

ANYWAY!! Here's the sketch for this week:

Now, I went to make my card. I decided to use Copics on my cutie-pie Pure Innocence stamp (which I'm no pro at...but I'm LEARNING!!) and as I was putting things together I realized I had flipped the sketch. Hmmph! Didn't mean to. But I did. Most times I do it on purpose, but this time I didn't. Oops. Oh well, I like how it turned out.

Isn't she sweeeeeeeet? :D And that patterned paper? Isn't it just the best? That would be Picket Fence by Lily Bee Design. I am in LOVE with it. ♥

I hope everyone had a beautiful weekend. I wish you a glorious start to a brand-new week!

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock - White (Gina K Designs), Colored (Stampin Up), Patterned Paper - Picket Fence (Lily Bee Design)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Stamps: Crazy for Daisies (My Favorite Things)
Die-Cutting: Jumbo Scallops, Dizzy Doily Die-Namics (My Favorite Things), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)
Color Medium: Copic Markers
Accessories: Seam Binding Ribbon, Pearl (Stampin Up), Black Glitter (Martha Stewart)}

All my best,

Moxie Fab: Tuesday Trigger - Porch Play

It IS Spring, isn't it? You wouldn't know it around the Bay Area! Brrr... I'm still waiting for it to warm up. Where are my 80 degree temps?! WHERE?!

When I saw this weeks Tuesday Trigger over at Moxie Fab World it just screeeaaamed Spring. The colors are so fresh & happy. Love it. Check out the inspiration pic:

OH...EM...GEE!! I know, right?
I love the bold, yet Spring-y colors, that GORGEOUS frame on the mirror, the flowers, the crisp white, the chair, the scallops... Yes, in fact, I *could* go on & on! ;)

Here's my little 'ol interpretation of that:

I can't believe that I'm going to admit that I actually love my OWN card.  Is that weird?

Well, my dears...It's FRIDAY!! YAY!! I'm so happy.  I'm going to enjoy a little warmth & sun this weekend. Maybe head into Berkeley and pick up a few crafty things and then go up to Napa Sunday and see Eddy's wonderful family. Pure joy! Wishing you all a lovely weekend! xoxo

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardtock - White (base layer - Gina K Designs), Patterned Paper (Echo Park For the Record Collection)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paint: Red Pepper, Pitch Black (Adirondack Acrylic Paint - Ranger)
Stamps: Essential Sentiments (MFT)
Die-cutting: Jumbo scallops, Scalloped scallop, Mini-rolled roses Die-Namics (MFT)
Accessories: Metal frame, distressing tool, sanding grip (Tim Holtz), Ribbon Trim (Webster's Pages), Pearls (Stampin' Up)}


All my best,

FINALLY Getting Sketchy with Tiff!

One of the sweetest people in all of the crafty blogosphere is Tiffany Johnson, aka iheartart or tiffguam or if you just want to call it like it is: craaaaaazy talented!! ;) This girl has it ALL going on. I was fortunate enough to meet this sweetie-diva last year at CHA and she's just a whirlwind of creative energy.

ANYWAY...she has started to do her own sketches on her blog called Sketchy Sundays and they are so super fun. For some dumb reason I just haven't done one. YET! But today's the day that changes. YAY!! She is already into her 15th sketch and here I am sadly just doing my 1st, but better to start now than not at all, right?! RIGHT!

Here's her awesome sketch:

I, being me, had to change it around just a little. I flipped it. :D

I had to play with some stuff that's been giving me the evil eye. Tim Holtz glassine paper, his Kraft Resist Paper, and a new stamp set from MFT. Yay! So while the colors may not seem Spring-y I kinda like it.

Hope everyone has eased into the new week. :)

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (SU), Kraft Resist & Glassine (Tim Holtz)
Ink: Various Blues & Black Archival Ink (Ranger)
Stamps: Clearly Sentimental About Success (MFT), Old Letter Writing (Hero)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Tattered Florals (Sizzix), Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)
Color Medium: Perfect Pearls
Accessories: Button (Tim Holtz), Ribbon (stash)}



All my best,

Opportunity for Growth

This post is all about learning. Learning how to let go and move on. I don't do this often enough. I really don't. When it comes to crafting I don't look at mistakes and think, "what else can I make out of this?", I just get mad at myself. It's a vicious cycle.

I started out today with an image I had colored last night using a super pretty new image from MFT called Inspired by Spring (I think it may be sold out currently since I can't do anything but link to an image from their blog.) I wanted to use it for the MFT Wednesday Sketch Club #14. I had gone a bit overboard and decided I wanted to color my eggs. So when I went to make the card for the sketch absolutely nothing went right. Nothing. It was a disaster.  I tore the whole thing apart.

But...instead of trashing it (as I normally would have) I was encouraged by one of my Twitter friends, two actually - Leslie and Shaleeta - to not give up.

My humble card:

I think I may just keep this card for myself. To remind myself that every day IS a new beginning. Something I've been tending to forget lately.

xoxo

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock - White (Gina K Designs), Certainly Celery (Stampin Up)
Ink: Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Stamp: Inspired By Spring (My Favorite Things)
Coloring Medium: Koh-I-Noor Woodless Pencils & Prismacolor pencils
Die-Cutting: Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Ribbon (Stampin' Up), Glossy Accents (Ranger), Stardust Pen (Sakura)}

All my best,

Jingle Belles - Numero 15

The challenge for us Jingle Belle'ers this week is The Ghost of Christmas Present . And the guest hostess is Clare from Miscanthus Crafts. Always fun to have a fellow Belle'er hosting the challenge.

Here's the criteria for what we are to use in our card for this week:

1. As white as a ghost
2. A present
3. A bow or knot
4. A touch of traditional Christmas colors

Here's what I came up with based on the above:

I wasn't planning to add the red, polka dot background, but I kinda had to. When I tried to take the pic it just kind of washed out since it was all white. Weird.

Anyway, the card is 3" x 6" rectangle. Kind of different for me. Just thought I'd shake things up. And all the papers except the base layer are metallic or shimmery in some fashion. I know you can't tell. Sorry. :( I couldn't find a sentiment I liked so, once again, I brought out my trusty-dusty Dymo label maker (everyone should have one of these...seriously!).

Been a rough week (having way too many of those lately). Thinking about crawling back in bed for awhile. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and a lovely week ahead. xoxo

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock - White (Gina K Designs), Specialty (Paper Temptress)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Rectangle/Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Zig-Zag Die-Namics (MFT)
Stickers: Kris Kringle Felt Element stickers (SEI)
Ribbon: Stampin Up
Accessories: Dymo Label Maker}


All my best,

Good People...

I'm very fortunate to have some very good people in my life. I feel like I don't say Thank You to those people often enough for all the things that they do.

I made a card today for one of those people. She has no idea she's getting this card, so that'll be a surprise (yay!), but I totally made it with her in mind. She's a calm in a storm, always has a laugh and a smile at the ready, and is one of the sweetest people I have EVER had the privilege of meeting.

I saw the design for this card when I saw Lea Lawson's DT design for Lawn Fawn's Plus One. It is soooo cute! I knew I had to CASE it, at least a little. I hope she doesn't mind. Love how she used the DP as a design element and not JUST a background, it just pops off the page. Beautiful.

My card is using MFT (I HAD to!! They're having a release party tonight! You have to go, too!).. the Jumbo scallop die, and one of the greetings from the Framed Greetings Stamp & Die-Namics set. I seriously am head over heels in love with MFT and their Die-Namics, but I have my eye on some stamps, too. ;)

I can't wait to get this card out in the mail. I just love how it turned out. Thanks for the fabulous design, Lea! (Not that she'll see this...HAHAH!!)

Hope everyone has a great evening. :)


All my best,

Jingle Belles, Batman WHAT?!

I will admit I'm not a fan of April Fools. I think it's kind of weird to play tricks on people you "claim" to like. (Yes, I've been tricked way too many times. So, I'm not a fan.) And then I see the prompt to make a funny card for Jingle Belles this week and I thought I was doomed. I don't know how to make funny cards. I really don't. Jingle Belles, Batman Smells? Are these girls pulling my chain? Seriously?! I think they hate me.

I started thinking of what I could possibly do and I tossed an idea at my good pal, Leslie (The Crooked Stamper) and she thought it might work. Might even be humorous. So, here's my feeble attempt at humor and Christmas.

It's a bit, okay, a LOT on the silly side. What can I say? I own ZERO funny stamps so I just made something up as I went along. I actually decapitated a Santa to put that hat on Rocky I'll have you know! ;) Please note that instead of saying "Yo, Adrian" he is saying "Ho, Ho! Adrian". I thought that was quite clever of me. And I replaced his title belt with a belt made out of Hodge Podge hardware, glitter &  a sentiment. 'Cause that's how *I* roll. Oh yeah!!

(* edit - I forgot to mention that MY Rocky is sporting some shimmer body paint, but because I can't take a picture worth a beans you can't see it. Trust me, it's there. And, it's fuuuuuuny! )

(*edit again... Oh, the heck with it! Here's a close up of his shimmery bod. :D )

Anyway, hope it makes you giggle, at least a little. :)

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (Stampin' Up!), DP - Everybody Loves Christmas (Echo Park
Ink: Stampin' Up
Image: Google
Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages (PTI)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Jumbo Scallop (MFT), Die-cutting Machine: Vagabond (by Tim Holtz for Sizzix)
Accessories: Stickers (Echo Park, SEI), Glitter (Martha Stewart), Hardware, Shimmer Paint - Champagne Mist (SU!).}


All my best,

It's a spring thing...I think

The weather FINALLY warmed up here in California. YAY!! I won't deny that I have that nasty Seasonal Affective Disorder. I need sunshine. And heat. It makes for a gloomy Lisa when I don't have it. So, I'm thrilled when it warms up. My desktop thermometer thingy says that it's currently 79 degrees. Oh yes. 79!! Of course, being as that I'm from Nevada I still have on sweats. But that's another story. ;)

Anyway, I decided to attempt a card since I've been sooo lacking in creativeness. Nothing fancy-schmancy. Just a little ol' something I could whip up in a hurry. But something that reflects my semi-state-of-sort-of-happiness that I am that it's SPRING!!

Without further ado. My card:

I like it. This card is just a rainbow of butterflies. It makes me happy. :)

Hope wherever you are, that YOU are happy, enjoying a little sun, looking forward to the weekend and that no one has played any weird April Fools tricks on you.

*mwah*


{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock: Colored c/s (Stampin' Up), white c/s (Gina K Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Stamps: Butterfly Dreams (PTI)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: All Embossing Folders by Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Petite Scalloped Ovals, Petite Ovals Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Die-cutting/Embossing Machine - Vagabond by Tim Holtz for Sizzix.
Accessories: Butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), Clear Star gel pen (Sakura)}

All my best,