Trying the OLC Again

Good Morning Everyone!

Next week is Principal's Day, so I needed a masculine card for my boss. Humorous would really be great, though I do not have much in the way of funny stamps.  I settled on this new to me stamp set from MFT, the now retired Monkey Business~

I am still finding One Layer Cards to be a bit of a challenge, but gave it a go, using prompts from a couple of challenges.  The colors at MFT Color Challenge~

And the Cue word at Casology~

I stamped a bunch of bananas, using the masking technique and my MISTI.  Colored the bananas with my Prismacolor Pencils, stamped the sentiment, and then added a fine black line around the card.

I am also linking up to Less is More, where this week we are to show what makes us HAPPY!  Prismacolors make me happy!

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

Lee Ann :)

Dazzling for Mom

Hi Everyone and Happy Hump Day!

Wednesday has rolled around already, so it is time for a new challenge at Add a Little Dazzle; this is the last challenge for February.  Where has the month gone??
This week the team is texturizing the Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal.

I hope you can join us for this challenge!

I decided I wanted the use of an embossing folder to be the star of the show on this card.  I started with a card front sized piece of Wondrous White Craft Metal and embossed it with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  But, before embossing, I inked up the raised side of the embossing folder with Delicata Gold ink.
Once embossed, the white metal had areas of the gold Delicata ink on it.  I selectively heat embossed some of the roses with gold ep.  Then, the embossing folder was reinked and the metal sheet was placed back into the folder, making sure to seat the images in their proper spots.  I ran this through the Big Shot and then, sprinkled clear UTEE over the metal.  I love the way the UTEE beaded up on the metal once heated up.

Next, using Adirondack reinkers, I colored some of the roses red.  I decided I needed a little bit more of something, so colored a few of the smaller flowers with Butterscotch Adirondack ink. 
To keep the focus on the embossed panel, I just added some wide red ribbon to the bottom of the card, along with 2 gold leaves and the simple sentiment tag.
I really like the decidedly Asian flair to this card.
I am linking up to ~
Inkspirational Challenge-A great inspiration photo~

 I am also linking up to Simon Says Stamp- Work it Wednesday. 
Hop on over to the Add a Little Dazzle Blog and check out the inspiration from the rest of the Oh-so-talented Design Team.  Then, why not make your own card and link it up on the Add a Little Dazzle Blog!  You do not have to use Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal on your project, but if you have it we would love to see it! 

Interested in trying your own Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal?  You can purchase yours HERE. 

Thank you in advance if you purchase Add a Little Dazzle product from

 this link as I get credit for it.  

THANK YOU!

February Hop with Heartfelt Creations Alum!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the February Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog Hop!  If you are hopping along you should have arrived her from Emilia's blog.  You have until Friday, February 27th, mn 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!
I had fun playing with my new Birds and Blooms Cling Stamp Set.  In addition, I used Prismacolor Pencils and watercoloring for my mediums.

I love, love, love birds and this sweet, fluffy bird is just the cutest!  I was so excited to see these sets released last month.  So, I started with the bird- stamped, colored with Prismacolors and die cut him out.  Then I stamped the branches and colored them with watercolors followed by Prismacolors and die cut them out.
Next, I stamped the flowers and colored them-then I realized I did not buy the dies for the flowers.  Epic fail!  So,  I fussy cut all of the flowers out. 
My watercolored background is actually a redo as the first one was a total dud, imo!  I have been using both Kuretake watercolors and Peerless watercolors lately, and to be honest, I cannot remember which I used here.  I have used mixed media paper as I find I have better success with that versus watercolor paper. 
I used the sketch from Cardabilities~

But then I added the branch to the top right hand corner as I felt the card needed balance.  Not sure if this counts anymore, LOL!
I tucked a doily under the sentiment banner, added Simon Says Stamp Sequins and scrunched some seam binding for a bow. 
Are you ready to hop?  Here is your blog hop list~
Giovana Smith
Ujjwal Goel
Kerry Urbatch
Glenda Brooks 
Mary Faus
Loretta Lock
Amarilys Doria
Gini Cagle
Lisa Gregory
Emilia van den Heuvel
Lee Ann Barrett
Sarah Miller 
Lisa Allen

I am also linking up to Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge- 'No Rules'

The winner of the hop will be announced Saturday, Feb 28th.
Enjoy the hop!

Thanks for visiting!

Lee Ann :)

Hopping with Kraftin' Kimmie!

Good Morning and Happy Monday Everyone!

Today is a bit unique in that I am participating in the first ever Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog Hop! The blog hop is filled with creations by customers, design team members and friends of KKS and we're so excited to share some of our creations!
 Feel free to start the hop from the beginning at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog: http://kraftinkimmiestamps.blogspot.com/…/first-ever-krafty… Then hop around and check out all the fabulous designs! Be sure to leave a comment at each stop because there will be prizes and giveaways to some random commenters!

I was in need of a baby card and love this Little Bo Peep image for that purpose.   If you are familiar with this image or, if you are checking it out now in the store, you will see that there is only one sheep in the image.  Well, I wanted a flock of sheep, so I masked off Bo Peep and added several sheep to the scene.  
I colored with Copics and fussy cut the top portion of Bo Peep out, as I was using the sketch from Match the Sketch~

 I am also linking up to~
 Allsorts Challenge- 'Purple'


Not only can you comment to win, we'd love to have you JOIN the blog hop by posting your own design!! Just post a new creation featuring a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp and link it up to the main blog post and you'll not only be a part of this fun hop, but you'll be entered to WIN more goodies!! You have until February 28th!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

Have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Verve Floral

Good Morning!

Had fun playing a few challenges last night and came up with a bright and cheery card~

 

I used the sketch from Viva la Verve~

And the color combo from Color Throwdown~

I don't know why I never thought of this combo before!  I love it- it is so fresh and clean!

This is also for Just Add Ink- 'Just Add Thank You'

I wanted two different fonts so did some masking on two different sentiments from the Verve Bloom and Grow set. 

I also used the Vintage Oval Die to add a layer and a bit of interest to the Sentiment panel.  The vellum banner is also cut with this die. 

The vellum banner was dressed up with some embossing paste and a stencil.  The sequins have tiny seed beads to their centers for added shimmer.  Unfortunately, I could not capture that with the camera.  

I also used two of my favorite products, the Nature Gmund Savanna Textured cs from CutCardStock, as well as the twine from Hemptique. 

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

Lee Ann  :)

A New Challenge at 613 Avenue Create

Good Morning and Happy Sunday!

Are you enjoying the weather disco like we are here in St Louis??  One day sleet and snow, next day near 40 and the next day near 11!  LOL!  Oh well!  Just gives me an excuse to just stay in and craft! 
This week the challenge at 613 Avenue Create is 'Birthday-Anything Birthday'. 
I chose to make a birthday card for a little girl as I fell in love with this image from one of the sponsors, Flat Friends. 

I have a mix of supplies in this card- image is Flat Friends "Taylorbell" colored with Copics, sentiment is from Kraftin' Kimmie.  I have used some Basic Grey dp and PTI dp.  The swirls from the wand are made with a die from Cheery Lynn.  I embossed the flourishes with silver ep and added bling- a star to the end of the wand and tiny rhinestones around the flourishes. 
I fussy cut the image out as I wanted to add vellum wings to this fairy.  I added Wink of Stella to the wings for some great shimmer~

Thanks so much for stopping by; hope you can get crafty today!

Lee Ann  :)

Dazzling Scene

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday!

Ready for a new challenge at Add a Little Dazzle?  We have a new style of challenge for you- the very trendy and popular mood board!   Here is my take on this month's mood board~

And here is your mood board!

I started with a couple of my favorite Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, Keep My Lamp Burning and The Mighty Sea.  The lighthouse is a collage style stamp, so I masked much of the background and just stamped the lighthouse on the cs.  I then repeated that and stamped the lighthouse in Stazon ink on the Scarlet Red Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal sheet.  I fussy cut out the bottom 3/4ths of the lighthouse.
I masked the 'beachy' portion of the Mighty Sea image and stamped the water in both Basic Gray and Buckaroo Blue ink onto the cs (with the lighthouse masked off).  I was trying to give the water a cold, wintry look.  With Basic Gray ink, I sponged in the winter sky.
The Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal lighthouse was adhered to the cs using Scor-tape.  I used white acrylic paint on the waves.  Once that was dry, I added some Crystal Effects to the waves and then sprinkled with glitter.  I also used the Crystal Effects around the railing of the lighthouse, trying to create icicles.  I sprinkled this with glitter as well, although you cannot see it in the photo. 
The final wintry touch was adding falling snow by splattering watered down white acrylic paint over the scene.  After an initial spatter of paint, I stamped the sentiment.  Then a second layer of spattered paint was applied.  Finally I added the snowbank, die cut using Simon Says Stamp's Stitched Slopes and Hills.

Interested in trying out your own Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheets?  

You can purchase them HERE.

Thank you in advance for you purchase as I get credit if you purchase 

from a link on my blog.  

THANK YOU!

Check out all of the beautiful inspiration from the rest of the talented Design Team over on the Add a Little Dazzle blog and then link up your gorgeous creation with us!  Remember, you don't have to use Add a little Dazzle craft metal on your project, but if you have it we would love to see it!

I am linking up to~
Mixed Media Card Challenge-Theme-Love- there is no greater love than God's love. 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Add a Little Texture
Addicted to Stamps and More- Make your Mark

Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!

Lee Ann  :)

Guesting with Stamplorations!

Hi Everyone!

I hope a lot of you are getting to enjoy a 3-day weekend; I know I am!
I have the pleasure of guest designing for Shery over at Stamplorations.  Today is the start of a new sketch challenge there; I really had fun with this one, doing quite a bit of masking.

Here is the new sketch~

This is such a versatile sketch; I played around with lots of different designs and decided to go with the masking and repeated stamping of the gorgeous Sketched Daffodil image.  Can you tell I am ready for warmer weather?!
I started with the main daffodil image, stamping it in the bottom corner of the cardstock.  I masked the flower and stamped the flower behind it, masked that off and then stamped the on directly above that.  The images did not seem quite balanced, so I masked two of the flowers and added the final daffodil, behind and a bit to the left of the others.
Searching daffodils in Google Images, I found a gorgeous color combo of peach and white and went for it.  My dp is Stampin' Up and the sentiment is from Stamplorations Sentiment Builders:Thank You stamp set.  I love my Fall Festival Sequins from Simon Says Stamp and used a few of them for a bit of shine. 
I hope you can join us in this new challenge- you have 2 weeks to link your creation up!
I am linking up to -
Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge- 'Anything Goes' 
Sister Act- 'Anything Goes'

Have a blessed Monday!

Lee Ann  :)

Bunny Valentine

Hi Everyone!

I love Fridays, but I was especially happy to see this Friday come.  I spent the evening de-stressing by coloring.  I used a brand new image that I got from Kraftin' Kimmie and Copics.  I needed one more Valentine for my mom and dad (yes, it will be a bit late), so kept the card fairly flat for mailing.

There was  piece of Very Vanilla on my desk that had been stamped with an inked up embossing folder, so used that for my flag.
The sketch is from The Challenge~


And colors from Colour Me...~

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is 'All Creatures Great and Small'.  I guess my animal is small to medium!  :)
 Crafting for All Seasons Challenge is 'Have a Heart'.  

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a marvelous long weekend!

Lee Ann  :)

Dazzling and Masculine

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

The countdown is on to Valentine's Day and I have another masculine card for the Add a Little Dazzle Wednesday Challenge.  This week we have a color challenge, Dark Chocolate and Scarlet Red.

Here is your inspiration photo~

I struggled with this one, mainly due to lack of MOJO, but once I decided to keep it simple, it came together quickly.  I used my PTI Phrase Play #1 mini stamp set and coordinating die.  The 'You' is die cut in Dark Chocolate Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal and the hearts and words 'are my' are die cut in Scarlet Red Craft Metal.  The dull finish of the Dark Chocolate metal keeps it masculine and the shine of the Scarlet Red metal is just enough to give it that special something.
My background panel is the Hardwood Stamp from SU, stamped in Early Espresso on Crumb Cake cs.  The tag is also cut from Crumb Cake cs and the craft metal words were placed using the Inlaid Die Technique.  Since my tag is up on dimensionals, I had to keep he words from falling out the back, so I taped them in place with Scor-Tape on the back side of the tag to secure them.
A bit of Hemptique twine and the shiny Scarlet Red hearts ( die cut with Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps dies) finish off the card.
I am linking this up to-
House of Cards- 'Love'
Addicted to Stamps and More- Anything Goes
{Pin}spirational- Has a great inspiration photo with hearts, weathered wood, and burlap.
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Red and Pink
Papertake Weekly- Hearts and Flowers
Allsorts Challenge- Love is All Around
Just Us Girls-

Check out the Add a Little Dazzle Blog to see more inspiration from the uber talented Design Team!  Then play along and link your card up to the blog!  As always, there is a giveaway!

If you would like to try Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal in your crafting, 

you can get it HERE!  Thanks so much in advance as I get 

credit for your purchase!  

THANK YOU!

Hope you play along with us!  

Thanks so much for stopping by; have a wonderful week!  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lee Ann  :)

Vintage CAS

Hi Everyone and Happy February!!!  We are enjoying unseasonably warm weather here in St Louis this weekend. Still, I did make some time to get inky.  Hope you do too!
Are you ready for a new challenge at 613 Avenue Create?  This week you get to create your own color challenge!

I went with the pink, green and 'Free' space, adding blue. 
I love the 50s vintage look but really am not good at it.  I decided to try to get the look with a CAS card.

I used some We R Memory Keepers dp for the background.  I have been wanting to use this sweet little bird and flower from Crafty Secrets; the stamps were perfect for the Less is More Challenge this week, 'Little Ones'.  Images were colored with Copics and then fussy cut out.  The birds are on dimensionals.  The greenery swag is an image  from a Simon Says Stamp Clearly Besotted set, Autumn Blessings.  Finished off the card with sequins from SSS and added a fine black frame around the card using a Copic multiliner.
I linking up to
 Papertake Weekly- 'Anything Goes' 
Party Time Tuesday- 'Anything Goes'
Sister Act Card Challenge- 'Anything Goes'
Fab 'n Funky Challenges-'Hearts and/or Flowers
Crafting by Design- 'Anything Goes'

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lee Ann  :)

A New Challenge- CAS!

Hi Everyone! 

Sweet Giovana and I are back with our second challenge.  Thanks so much to those who joined us in our mixed media challenge.

 We are keeping things simple and no stress here.  Giovana has picked our challenge this month and she wants CAS!  There are a lot of CAS lovers out there, so time to ink up your stamps! Here is some inspiration for you, if you are short on MOJO~

Most CAS cards have a lot of white space- literally,  but it does not have to be white.   I found some inspiration on Pinterest for my CAS card and sponged the entire card front. Clearly, I did not use our inspiration mood board!

My image is from Stampendous and the sentiment is PTI.  Both are heat embossed. 
I have sponged the card with Island Indigo, Night of Navy, Pool Party, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Tangerine Tango. 
I used the sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch~

 Also entering in
 Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, All Things Bright and Beautiful
Seize the Birthday- Anything Goes
CAS on Sunday- Flowers
Shopping Our Stash- Getting Inky (My oldest inks are SU felt pads.  I have used Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie and So Saffron here)
One Layer Simplicity Challenge- 'You Blend'
I am adding Casology as well (thanks Ardyth!)-'HOT'

Don't forget to visit Giovana's blog, Believe, to check our her beautiful CAS card!

We hope you join us and get inky!  Please keep these simple rules in mind~
1.  Link to your specific blog post, not your entire blog
2.  Add a link back to us in your blog post
3.  Please do not back link
4.  Have fun!

Lee Ann  :)

A Dazzling Valentine

Hi Everyone!

Wednesday has rolled around again (how does that happen so quick?) and it is time for another Add a Little Dazzle Challenge.  This week we have an Inspiration Challenge and it is just in time for those Valentine cards.

And here is your Inspiration Photo~

I went with the colors and a simple design, mimicking the cup of hot cocoa,  that is a perfect masculine card.  I work with teachers and Valentines cards are one of two themes of cards that they most frequently request.  I can never have too many masculine Valentine cards!

I started with the sketch from CAS(e) This Sketch~

 Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is "H is for..."  In this case, 'H' is for hearts.

I took the chevrons from Curtain Call- Kissing Booth~

The colors and the large Subway Style lettering in the Addicted to Stamps and More Inspiration Photo were perfect for my sentiment and the colors of my card~

So many Valentine challenges this week!  House Made of Cards has a 'LOVE' theme this week and {Pin}spiration has a wonderful Inspiration photo with red hearts and neutrals.   

I used a piece of white Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal and my SU chevron embossing folder to create the stripe pattern on the background.  Then to make the pattern stand out more, I sanded the metal with fine steel wool.  This was just enough to take the paint off the edges for the silver to show through.  I think it gives it a really cool masculine look.
I used SU Heart Framelits to die cut a heart and then stamped it in Versamark and red ink with a heart image from Craft Lounge days.   I embossed it with clear ep.  I have been told that embossing powder goes bad.  Well, I can attest to the fact that it does.  For some reason the ep melted and some just kind of disappeared, LOL; and I barely hit it with a heat gun.  So I have a bit of a speckled look to my heart.  I die cut my circle in brown and then die cut a circle from my red cs and inlaid the brown circle.
All in all, this is an easy peasy card!  

Check out the Add a Little Dazzle Blog to see more inspiration from the amazingly talented team.  Then play along and link your card up to the blog!  

 If you want to try Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal in your crafting, you can get it HERE!  Thanks so much in advance as I get credit for the purchase!

THANK YOU!

Thanks for stopping by and have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Lee Ann  :)

More Coloring and a Few Challenges

I had so much fun playing with stamps, ink and Copics this weekend!  Kraftin' Kimmie celebrated over 2000 friends in their fb group as well as the owner, Kim's birthday; I just had to play along.
Yes, I just used this stamp, but I really love it and it was perfect for the sketch challenge and to add pink to the card.  Inkspirational Challenges wants us to use shades of 'Rose' this week and Curtain Call has a wonderful graphic photo with pink and red. At Papertake Weekly, the challenge is to Take Your Pick Week; I picked any 'warm colors' to use.Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is 'Anything Goes'!

The image is Anne of Green Gables from Kraftin Kimmie Stamps and is colored with Copics.  The dp is Authentique, the flower is Prima and the leaves are die cut with a SpellBinders die, Foliage.

                         

Thanks so much for visiting and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann :)