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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Season's Giving Blog Hop


Hi Everyone and Happy New Year!  
Welcome to the Seasons Giving Blog Hop!
This hop is a thank you to our blog readers and followers; there are over 100 participants in this hop and everyone has a give away!  That is a lot of free goodies!
What a difference a year makes; I am still asking myself where 2014 went.  
This year has been an exciting one, being on several design teams; they kept me busy!
I am grateful for all of you who stopped in and left snippets of kindness and love; 
everyone's time is valuable and I know you have as much or more
on your plate than me, so 
THANK YOU!
Now on to the give away!  Please note that unfortunately, due to shipping costs,
 I cannot ship out of the US.


To enter for a chance to win, please leave me a comment below, telling me what trends/
techniques you would like to try in the new year.  
For an additional chance to win, please "follow" my blog by clicking on the blue "join this 
site" button in the side bar and then leave me a second message telling me you are a follower!


I loved all of the new trends, techniques and products that came out this year!  From 
gold embossing and vellum to watercoloring and sequins, I embraced them all, LOL!  The 
above project uses a Stampendous image, gold embossing and watercoloring.
My inspiration for this card came from Runway Inspired Challenges, AAA Cards-use gold and from Colour Me...!, where
they are celebrating their one year anniversary.  I used CMCC#14.


 Here are my top 10 favorite cards of the year~

This CAS card was made with Altenew stamps Hennah Elements and Label Love and Add a Little 
Dazzle Craft Metal.  I used the gold embossing and vellum.  :)

 
Another CAS card, this one using Cas-ual Fridays stamps and dies and Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal- and some more gold embossing!  I also used my favorite 
new tool of 2014- the Misti.  

One of my favorite floral images is this Precious Poppy image from Sweet 'n 
Sassy Stamps; colored with Prismacolor Pencils.  I am trying to bring back torn paper, LOL!
I love the look!  :)

Another trendy technique of 2014 is mixed media, which I did here, along with vellum.  Shells are 
from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Beauty By the Sea and sentiment is from Across the Miles. 
I really love how all of the elements came together.  

It is hard to go wrong with this gorgeous die from Die-Namites; I layered up the flowers 
and colored the tree limb with Copics.  I used vellum and gold embossing here; 
noticing a trend??  LOL!

This may be my fave for the year.  I used dies from Top Dog Dies- Fall Foliage and
the Signature Beatrix die along with the fabby stencil from Crafters 
Workshop.  And gold embossing!

Sponging is the name of the game here, along with a Windmill die from Top Dog 
Dies and Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal.  And torn paper.  :)

I love a collage style card, but really struggle with them, so when this one came
together, I was thrilled!  There is quite a variety of goodies represented here- 
Stampin' Up sea shell image, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps nautical compass image, Top 
Dog Dies- Decorative Corners dies and Laurel Lace Border die, some Heartfelt Creations dp, 
and a water colored background. 

This card came together well with an MFT sketch.  I used MFT stamps and 
dies for this card.  I worked on improving my Copic coloring skills
this past year. 

Had to sneak a masculine card in!  Poor guys always seem to be getting left
out! I used  PTI stamp set, Happy Harlequin, and die.  I love
how the Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal pops on this card.  Another trend this past 
year?- the inlaid die technique, which I used here. 

Thank you if you are still with me on this lengthy post!  Here is your blog hop list~


Remember, comment for one chance, follow for a second chance to win! You have until January 5th, 11:59 pm, EST to comment
for a chance to win this giveaway. Winner will be announced on January 6th.
Happy Hopping and

 Happy New Year!

Lee Ann  :)
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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog Hop

Hello Everyone!

It is time for another Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog Hop! I have not had the opportunity to hop in a while, but with Christmas break and free time, I was able to sneak in the final one for 2014.  If you are hopping along, I am your first stop.  You have until Friday, January 2, 2015 at midnight EST to hop along and comment for a chance to win.  A $25 Heartfelt Creations gift certificate is up for grabs!  The more blog hop participants blogs that you comment on, the greater your chances of winning.
Today I am sharing one of my favorite images, colored with watercolors~


The Dahlia Bouquet Cling Stamp Set is perfect for corner collage style designs.  I kept it simple and mailable by letting the water coloring do the talking.  A few pearls, baker's twine bow and a fine black line added around the edge of the image panel is all this card needs for embellishing. 
The image was stamped in Versafine black ink and heat set.  I water colored with my new Peerless water colors.  I added just a bit of shading with Prismacolor Pencils.  The sentiment is from the versatile Classic Message Cling Stamp Set. My card base is one of my favorite cardstocks with loads of yummy woodgrain texture, Nature Gmund Savanna cardstock.
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Anything Goes, so I am linking up there.  


Here is your Alumni Blog Hop list; enjoy the hop!

Lee Ann Barrett-You are Here!
Amarilys Doria
Caroline Duncan 
Ujjwal Gupta
Vicki Dutcher
Glenda Brooks
Emilia van den Heuvel
Loretta Lock
Lisa Gregory  
Linda Loew
Gini Williams Cagle 
Giovana Smith
Sarah Miller
Alissa Wells
Lisa Allen 

The winner will be announced Saturday, January 3rd at noon.  Enjoy!

Have a blessed New Year!

Lee Ann :)
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Monday, December 29, 2014

Fave Five of 2014 and a Linky Party!

Hi Everyone! 

I was not planning a post today, but I could not resist linking up to a new-to-me blog.  It started at Vicki D.'s blog, where she shared her favorite 5 Christmas cards made in 2014.  She then linked up to Debby's blog, who has some simply amazing creations to share, as well as a linky party for anyone to share their favorite 5 Christmas cards.
I decided to give it a go, so here we are-


 One of the last cards I made this Christmas season, a clean and simple card using Top Dog Dies Cool Cats and Darling Deer. Sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I love how this turned out. 


I initially was going for a red on red card, with the contrast being the white snowflakes, but there was just not enough punch to it.  I used the inlaid die technique here, I think my fave new technique for 2014.  I used Top Dog Dies Darling Deer and Merry Christmas dies here.


All of the sentiments are from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I have been wanting to try this collage of sentiments for some time, but was not able to do it well until purchasing my new favorite gadget of 2014, my Misti.  I love the classic look of this clean and simple card.


I could not go through a season without using my all time favorite snowman!  He is covered in clear glitter and is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.


This one surprised me!  I love this nativity scene and wanted to do it up in neutrals.  As I played around with designs and papers, somehow this chevron paper made its way to the craft table.  While very busy, I love how it adds a punch of color and brings out the nativity.  This is also a Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps stamp. 

That's it for me!  Off to link up to the linky party! 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed last week of 2014!

Lee Ann  :)
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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Christmas is Over, But...

Hi Everyone! 

I thought I would sneak in one more Christmas card, despite that it is December 28th.  I do enjoy the year-long Christmas card challenges, including the one aptly named, Christmas Card Challenges. This week, their challenge is 'Anything Goes' (as long as it is Christmas). 


I have been wanting a Christmas stocking image for quite some time, so when Purple Onion Designs had their Black Friday sale, I just had to get this adorable image.The stockings are colored with Copics and the background is stamped with a MFT background stamp. 
I am linking up to Christmas Card Challenges, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, which is also anything goes and 613 Avenue Create, Anything Goes.



Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Lee Ann  :)
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Friday, December 26, 2014

Final JUGS Challenge for 2014

Hi Everyone!

Are you recovering from Christmas?  Or maybe you are recovering from standing in return lines today! I hope you had a wonderful, joyous Christmas, no matter how you celebrated!
Are you ready to get back to your craft room for a little unwinding?  Just Us Girls has a wonderful Inspiration Photo for us, this, the final week of 2014~

There are so many elements to love and to be inspired by here.  I was inspired by both the colors and the circles.


I was in need of a special Thank You card for a special little guy at school.  The inspiration photo, combined with the fun new stamp set from MFT was the perfect fit. 

I am linking this card up to Christmas Card Challenges #3- Inspiration Photo Penguin.  Yes, I am aware that this is not a penguin!  It does not have to be for their challenge, but the design of the inspiration photo inspired me and a polar bear is still an arctic critter! 


I stamped the darling image and then masked it.  Masked off the lower portion of the panel and sponged in the grey sky.  Then masked off the sky and sponged in the water.  Next, I used a home made circle template and added circles using white craft ink.  I started large and worked my way down in size.  The last circles were made just by pressing with an inked sponge dauber onto the background. 
There is a bitty snowflake stamp in the MFT set- I stamped it a few times with a glue pad and then added glitter to the snowflakes. 
The bear was stamped a second time, colored and then fussy cut out.  He is popped up on dimensionals.  The sentiment is heat embossed in white. 
Simon Says Stamp's final challenge of the year is 'Anything Goes', so I am linking up there as well. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed weekend! 

Lee Ann  :)

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Wow! Where did this Season Go??

Hello Friends!

I am still trying to figure out how the Christmas season got away from me; where has the time gone?  And goodness, you blink and Christmas is over!
If you are like me, you are doing a little end of year cleaning and purging.  I will have pics in another post of my huge craft room re-do!  Time to put all of those Christmas stamps and die sets away for another year, right?  HOLD ON! You can use your dies for other purposes. Take the Top Dog Dies Ornament and Tags #1 Die Set; I went a little crazy with it, making lots of Christmas cards with it this season.  But, turn your die upside down and what do you have??


That's right!  This Hershey's Kiss is made with the Ornament and Tags #1 Die Set.  

How cool is that??  I love that you can get multiple uses from this die set! 

The background was made using the bokeh technique.  I have been wanting to try it for forever!  I did not watercolor my background though, I sponged it.  The white craft ink tended to blend a bit with the red ink, making it a little more pinkie than I would have preferred, but then it IS a Valentine's card!  
The sentiment strip was cut free hand and stamped with a sentiment from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Valentine Critters Stamp Set.  I Used the sketch from CAS(e) This Sketch (although I am not really sure that this is a cas card even though it started out that way!).  I used the Top Dog Dies Banners #1 Die Set for the  scalloped element in the sketch.  


I almost missed the challenge at Shopping Our Stash, a two-weeker, focusing on the color red.  RED is most definitely the dominant color in this card! 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a Happy New Year!

Lee Ann  :)

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Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas!

Wishing Everyone a Very Blessed Christmas!

 
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Merry Christmas from Top Dog Dies (and Me)!

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick post today as everyone is busy busy with last minute preparations for Christmas.
I am sharing a very simple and quick CAS card using a non-Christmas die for my card.


I used my Top Dog Dies Cool Cats Die Set and made them Christmas ready by adding scarf and holly.  The scarf and holly are both dies from the Top Dog Dies Darling Deer Die Set.  The sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Christmas Silhouettes Stamp Set. 
That's it!  Quick, clean and festive!  I love this card!
Thanks so much for stopping by and if you should decide to shop at Top Dog Dies with their great selection of dies, I thank you in advance for shopping with the links above as I get credit for your purchase.  Thank You!

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
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Saturday, December 20, 2014

In the Home Stretch to Christmas!

Hi Everyone!

Are you finishing up all the last minute Christmas preparations?  Wow!  Where did the month go?  While I cannot believe Christmas is almost here and I am soooo not ready, I am thrilled that it is Christmas Break!
I have another card made with Top Dog Dies, perfect for sending a festive note to a friend or family member~


I chose colors that are not my 'go to' colors, but that is good- getting outside the comfort zone!  I die cut my Darling Deer from Glimmering Silver cardstock and mounted it on a pink Top Dog Dies Vintage A2 Mat.  Gave my deer a Wild Wasabi scarf.
I die cut 'Hello' from coordinating blues using the Top Dog Dies Hello Die Set.  I added a spring of holly using a die from the Darling Deer Die Set for a festive touch and finished it off with some sequins.

That's it for me, have lots of things to do before Christmas!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Paper-Crumb Cake, Regal Rose, vellum, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Wild Wasabi
Stamps-none
Ink-none
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Friday, December 19, 2014

Going Bright with Just Us Girls!

Hello Again!

It is Color Challenge week at Just Us Girls and have the girls got some vivid ones!


So these colors are a little- no, a LOT- out of my comfort zone!  I am not one to use alot of vivid, bright, pinkie, purplie colors!  LOL!  Thus, this was a true challenge, but it was also perfect for my brand new Reverse Confetti Stamp Set,  Fabulous Flamingo.



Perfect, right?  I love these fun flamingos.  It is so tempting to stamp them all in the usual pink but the color challenge and the sentiment pushed me to try something different, so the 'different' one is blue!
The background flamingos are stamped in a couple of retired shades of SU pink.  Legs are Blushing Bride.  Mr. Blue is Tempting Turquoise and Island Indigo and is die cut out with the coordinating Confetti Cuts.  A little bit of masking of the sentiment allowed me to stretch out the sentiment onto a banner. The sequins, from Neat and Tangled, are both metallic and holographic, and the perfect colors for the challenge.
Be sure to check out all of the amazing inspiration from the uber talented design team!   I hope you join us and link up your vivid creation!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

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Thursday, December 18, 2014

Christmas Cutie

Hi Everyone!

I have started on Thank Yous as I have gotten some very sweet gifts from the students at school already.  I broke out my brand new Purple Onion Designs stamps for this one and played along at Muse for the first time.  The very simple layout of Marion Vagg's was perfect for the image I wanted to use, which is a fuzzy critter just like hers.  I stamped my image on a square panel and matted it to frame it, as Marion's image is framed with a box- kind of.  :)  I love the placement of the sentiment!




I also played along with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and their great inspiration board-love the snowy dog.  I don't have a snowy dog stamp, but I do have a snowy polar bear stamp!

Christmas Card Challenges # 2 is CAS. 

Stamplorations Challenge this month is 'Stamps and Designers Choice'.  I chose 'Stamps and Markers'.

Thanks so much for stopping in and have a Blessed weekend!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps- Purple Onion Design; sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy
Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper-Calypso Coral, Curious Metallic Cryogen White cs
Other- Copics, Simply Scored
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Final Day to Get Your Free Die!

Good Morning Everyone!

The clock is ticking down- only 1 week to Christmas AND, today is the last day to take advantage of a great deal at Top Dog Dies.  You can get the Snowman Globe Die FREE when you spend $70 or more! 
I also have one more card made with the Ornaments and Tags #1 Die Set; yep I can't get enough of this die! 


I went a bit rustic, yet elegant with this card,  using Naturals White cs shades of brown and an evergreen print embossing folder.  Contrasted that with Brushed Gold cs and a large, sheer red bow. 

If you shop at Top Dog Dies from one of my links, I thank you in advance as I get 
credit for your purchase.  
THANK YOU!

Thanks so much for popping in; have a Blessed day!

Lee Ann  :)


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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Merry Christmas From Add a Little Dazzle

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Wednesday and the last challenge with Add a Little Dazzle for the year 2014.  Hard to believe that Christmas is just over a week away!  Seems it was just Thanksgiving!
Monica has a dazzling inspirational photo for us this week; I hope you can find some crafty time to join us!


This is so luxurious, so elegant, and that is how I was inspired! 


I broke out a MFT stamp set that I have had for a year or two, but had yet to use; sad isn't it?
This sentiment was perfect for what I had in mind.  I embossed it in gold and then kept a neutral 
color theme, allowing the snowflakes and glitz to take center stage.
I used my Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps snowflake dies to die cut the Golden Glimmer, Wondrous White and silver Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal.  

I used the sketch from Fusion Card Challenge~


Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is 'Anything Goes' this week.

Love the inspiration photo at Just Add Ink, too!

Tis' The Season has Snowflake and bling inspiration this week
 


We would love for you to join us this week.  You do not need to use craft metal, but if you have it, we would love to see it!
Check out the rest of the gorgeous DT inspiration on the Add a Little Dazzle Blog, and then link up your creation!

http://wp.me/p45iyt-4JG

Ready to try your own Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal?  Needing to buy yourself a
 Christmas present?  You can get yours HERE!  I thank you in advance if you
 purchase from this link as I get credit for your order.  
THANK YOU!

Have a Blessed Day!

Lee Ann  :)
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Last Minute Christmas with Top Dog Dies!

Hi Everyone!

Wow!  Just over 1 week and we will be celebrating Christmas!  Are you like me, working on last minute cards? 
The Ornament and Tags Set #1 from Top Dog Dies has been my go-to  Christmas item this season.  While entirely different, both of these cards were made with the Ornament and Tags Set #1. 


I love the Nordic look and used the light blue, red and white color scheme to achieve that here.  I also used the Gift Tag Die Set for the red mat behind the ornament.
The sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  


Yep, I used the Ornament and Tags Die #1 Set for this card as well.  The belt buckle was made with the tag from this die set.  I die cut it from Brushed Gold cs and then punched a circle in the center of it.  My black 'belt' was embossed with clear ep.  Santa's suit was textured with the Modern Mosaic A2 Mat Die.  Some 'fur trim' was added using one of the banners from the Top Dog Dies Banners #1 Die Set.  My 'HO HO HO' ( I love the ho hos!)  is die cut with the Holidays Die Set.

Did you know that Top Dog Dies has a great deal right now?  Spend $70 and get the fabulous Snowman Globe Die Set FREE!   That would be this snowman globe here~
 But you have to hurry, as the special offer ends December 18th! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  If you decide to shop at Top Dig Dies from one of these
 links, I thank you in advance as I get credit for your purchase.  
THANK YOU!

Have a Blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)
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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Winner!

Hi Everyone!

Just  a quick post to announce the winner of my blog candy from the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop~

The winner is~
Vanessa B!
Congrats Vanessa!  I will try to contact you via e-mail!
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Friday, December 12, 2014

Mixing It Up with Just Us Girls!

Hi Everyone!

Boy, it is soooo good to be back amongst bloggers!  I have been without a computer for a couple of weeks and could hardly use the computer for about a month prior to that.  Needless to say, I am thrilled to have a functioning computer allowing me to follow blogs, leave comments, and participate in challenges!  And I have a bonus for the month of December- guest designing with the Design Team from the "Just Us Girls" Challenge!  I missed last week due to the whole computer thing, but this week I am ready to go!
So, I am jumping in here for Trend Week, and it is a fun one- mixed media!


I used several mediums for my card including ink mixed with alcohol to spritz, embossing paste, embossing powder and wood.


Being a little low on mojo, I used the versatile sketch at Retrosketches~

As you can see, I took a little creative license here; I flipped the sketch and substituted tree branches for the stripes. 
I used  Die-Namites Dies, the wonderful bird cage from Poppystamps, and the sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  The bird cage is embossed with pewter embossing powder for wonderful shine.


I am also linking this up to the challenge at Poppystamps- Sparkle and Shine.  



Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a blessed week,

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps- Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Tender Thoughts, SU Gorgeous Grunge
Ink- Island Indigo, Versamark
Paper- Calypso Coral, Pistachio, Blush Blossom, Baked Brown Sugar
Other- Poppystamps bird cage die, Die-Namites  Spring Blossom and Shady Tree, embossing paste, Pewter ep


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