A Linkie Party with The Challenge and Sugar Pea Designs!

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to a new week and a new Monday!  It is time for a linkie party! We are celebrating the One Year Anniversary of  The Challenge! 

Sugar Pea Designs is sponsoring this celebration challenge and you have a chance at a fab prize from them!  I used the uber fun Sugar Pea Designs set, Wanderlust. 

I started with the sketch from Fusion~

I used a rectangle instead of an oval.  My colors come from Colour Me...

 I am also linking up to~
 Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - 'Anything Goes'
and Papertake Weekly-'A Cut Above'

I stamped two backgrounds- the compass rose was stamped in Bermuda Bay on white; I used generation stamping for this background.  The smaller panel was stamped with Crumb Cake on Naturals Ivory cs.
I did some masking with one of the sentiments in the set to come up with my unique sentiment.  Then, of course, there is the adorable scooter, which I colored with Copics and fussy cut out. I added some of my favorite sequins from Simon Says Stamp to add some sparkle, along with some Wink of Stella on the scooter.
So, did you notice the new graphic that Lesley designed?  That is just the start of the changes that are coming to The Challenge! AND, challenges will now be weekly!
 Hop on over to the blog to see what else we have in store for you!
Ready for some more inspiration? 
Check out what the team has for you!~

Kim Wiener
Lori Tecler
Nancy Salkeld
Kim Heggins
Anita Madden 
Lesley Croghan 
Michele Ferguson

AND, Lesley has lined up guest designers for the party, so hop on over to the blog for even more inspiration!

I think I have covered the main details!  Can't wait to see what you link up!

Lee Ann  :)

Anything Goes!

Hi Everyone! 

I have enjoyed guest designing with 613 Avenue Create for 3 months; today is my last challenge as a guest designer.  As luck would have it, it is an "Anything Goes" challenge! 

I used a brand new to me Stamping Bella image, Blown Away.  I wanted a fairly simple sketch to accommodate the size of the image, so I used the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches~

I colored the image with Copics and then, using the 'outside the box' technique, trimmed down the rectangle.  While you cannot see it, I used my Wink of Stella pen on the dress for some wonderful glitz.  I had some old Basic Grey dp that was a perfect match for my colors.   The sentiment is heat embossed with black ep on vellum and hand stitched to the image panel.  I few pale pink sequins finishes the card. 

I am also linking up to~
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes
Challenge Blog- #122 Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly- 'A Cut Above'-Fussy of Die Cutting
Addicted to Stamps- "Make your Mark"

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

Lee Ann  :)

CASing Easter

Hi All! 

I thought I would play in a few challenges today, as I wanted to use some new stamps and also use the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch. 

I just adore the images from Stacey Yakula; I had yet to ink up this bunny and the leafy sprigs.  I thought this sketch would work well~

Clearly, I rotated the sketch.  Some masking, sponging and coloring were simple enough.  Getting the leafy springs to line up on the two panels and cut the panels the right size was a different story!  Let's just say I did this card more than once! 

The colors are from Colour Q~

I had to use the closest thing to Pale Plum- I am not even sure what this color is, but Pale Plum was not in my stash. 
This is also for Darnell's NBUS #4 Challenge~

And for~
Crafting for All Seasons -"Use Pastel Hues"

The Curtain Call~

I went with an Easter theme and used the pastel colors.

That's it for me this evening- short and sweet!  

Have a wonderful second half of the week!

Lee Ann  :)

New Butterfly

Happy Sunday, Everyone.

I am gearing up to go back to work tomorrow.  For those on spring break this week, enjoy!  I took advantage of the last few hours of my spring break and played along in a few challenges; I wanted to try out a new stamp that had yet to see ink.  Of course, stamp shopping is a must on spring break!

This is an Indigo Blue Stamp, and I just love it!  It is the first of this brand that I have; I love the detailed design.
The image was stamped on mixed media paper with Versafine Black ink. I heat set the ink and then colored it with my Peerless Watercolors.  Love that stuff!  Next, I splattered on some watercolor and used my color spritzer to spritz on some black ink.  I pulled out an oldie but goodie sentiment stamp from Stampin' Up and heat embossed it in black on vellum.   
Sadly, I need this card for a friend and co-worker who lost her daughter 2 weeks ago.  I have made too many sympathy cards lately.

This card was inspired by several challenges-
Runway Inspired Challenge-
Darnell's NBUS #4-

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge-

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is 'Lion and Lamb'- use an animal on your card

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

Lee Ann  :)

Dazzling Tulips

Hi Everyone and Happy Wednesday!

It was finally feeling like spring around here, but we have had a little setback as the temps have cooled and we are expecting rain tomorrow.  I am not going to let the weather dampen my spring break fun; I am having lunch with friends at a tea room tomorrow and  I am looking forward to touring a Frank Loyd Wright house with a friend on Friday;  I am a bit of a Frank Loyd Wright fan.
Anywho, on to this week's Add a Little Dazzle Challenge.  We are continuing on with spring, regardless of the weather in your neck of the woods; this week is a theme challenge- "Spring"~

And here is your challenge photo~

When I see tulips, I think of the beautiful scenes of tulips and wind mills in Holland.  Of course, this is not the type of wind mill you see in the photos, but it is the only wind mill die I have, so it will have to suffice! 
I always feel like I have way too many stamps, but every time I am looking for something in particular, I do not have it.  Like tulips.  I do not have a plain tulip stamp.  Instead, it has a big bunny in the midst of the tulips and has a checkered border framing the image.  So, yes, every one of these tulips has been fussy cut out.
My background is water colored with my Peerless watercolors -love those things. The tulips are stamped fussy cut and colored with Copics.  My grassy hills are cut using a Simon Says Stamp Stitched Slopes and Hills die.
The windmill is cut with a Top Dog Dies Windmill Die.  I cut it from the silver back side of an Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheet.
I am linking up to ~
the inspiration challenge at {Pin}spirational
The Die Cut Divas -theme of spring or children
Addicted to Stamps and More is 'Anything Goes' this week!
Fab and Funky Challenges- Spring into Colours
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge has some awesome spring inspiration this week!

For more beautiful inspiration from the rest of the design team, pop over to the Add a Little Dazzle Blog.  We would love for you to join us.  As always, a prize is up for grabs.  You do NOT have to use Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal, but if you have some, we would love to see it! 

Ready to try your own Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal? 

You can purchase yours HERE.  If you make a purchase from my link, I 

thank you in advance as I get credit for it.  

THANK YOU!

Are you ready to play?  Why not join us?  

Have a blessed day!  

Lee Ann  :)

Are you up for The Challenge?

Happy Monday, Everyone!

It is an extra happy Monday here as we are on spring break! I imagine there are quite a few of you out there also enjoying 'the break'.
Lesley Croghan from Always Playing with  Paper has a new sketch and color combo up at The Challenge!

Clearly, I only followed the sketch this week!  I am going to have to give the colors a go as I think they are gorgeous; I think I have just been short on mojo again. 
I used PTI stamps and dies along with Studio Calico dp for my card.  I added a few of my favorite sequins, Moonshine, from Simon Says Stamp.
We hope you can play along!  There is a lot more inspiration on the blog, so hop on over and check it out! 

Thanks for visiting! 

Blessings,

Lee Ann  :)

To Caffeinate or Not to Caffeinate

Hello Everyone!

IT IS SPRING BREAK!  I was soooo ready for a little down time; hoping to play in lots of challenges this week. 
First up, a new challenge at 613 Avenue Create; it is National Caffeine Month, so the challenge this week is to make a card with something caffeinated- coffee, tea, soda, chocolate...
I am very limited on caffeine themed stamps.  I had to pull out an old Flourishes stamp to color up.

I went with another one layer card, and since this was a Christmas image, I decided to play along with The One Layer Christmas Card Challenge.  This week's challenge is "glitter". 

I am also linking up to Less is More where it is one layer week and in addition, there is to be an animal on the card.  I have a cardinal and reindeer. 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is 'Things that Fly'- again, I have a reindeer and cardinal (yes, the reindeer is stretching it, but if you believe in Santa, they fly!)

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

Lee Ann  :)

Dazzling Rain!

Hi Everyone!  Welcome to another Wednesday Challenge with Add a Little Dazzle!
Is it spring yet???  I know some of use are starting to see glimmers of it!  Regardless of the weather where you are at, Add A Little Dazzle is all about SPRING this month!

We have all sorts of inspiration for you with another Mood Board~

I really got caught up in the rain/boots theme!  I am not much of a St Pat's girl anyway!  I used a Great Impressions image, colored with Prismacolor Pencils and Copics, and then die cut and matted it on Basic Gray cs.  I made a couple of banners with my MFT FishTail Flag Stax Dies, and some Echo Park and Prima dp.
The cloud is cut with a MFT cloud die and cut a second time using the silver side of Add a Little Dazzle craft metal.  Backing the white cloud with the metal cloud gave my cloud a silver lining! 
I used the sketch at Deconstructing Jen-

 And added an Add a Little Dazzle craft metal scallop border in silver along the bottom edge of the white cs to tie in to the cloud. 
The sentiment is heat embossed in white an some sequins finish off the card!
I am linking up to-
Allsorts Challenge- ' Spring is in the Air'
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - B is For...  Boots

Ready for some more inspiration?  Check out the rest of the Design Team creations on the Add a Little Dazzle Blog and then play along!  You do not have to use Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal, but if you have it we would love to see it! 

 Wanting to check out Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal?  

You can do so HERE.  I thank you in advance if

you purchase from this link as I get credit for it.  

THANK YOU!

Ready to play? 

Adding a Little Dazzle to Easter

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday!

Regardless of the weather where you are at, we have some wonderful spring inspiration for you this month at Add a Little Dazzle.  This week we have a color challenge for you.

Fab colors, right???!!
 Here is your Color Challenge Photo~

 I loved these eggs so much that I decided to recreate them.  I used Princess Pink and Pucker Me Pink Craft Metal for my eggs, along with my brand new egg dies from PTI.  Now, these egg dies are very intricately cut, but since I just wanted plain eggs, I made a shim the size of the die and cut the center of the egg shim out.  This way, when I ran my die and metal through the Big Shot only the outer egg shape cut through the metal.
I used some Stampendous gold embossing powder on half of each egg; while the ep was still hot, I sprinkled gold glitter onto it, and hit it with the heat gun again to make sure the glitter was encrusted in the ep. 
The grass dies are from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and were perfect for 'hiding' my eggs!  I added the little leafy vines around the eggs as well.  This stamp is from Altenew's Hennah Elements Stamp set.
My background panel was embossed with a SU embossing folder and the tag was stamped with a Our Daily Bread Designs sentiment and die cut out with a die from Heartfelt Creations.  I finished it off with some gorgeous ribbon from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.
I am linking up to The Paper Players, challenge 'Spring'~

Inkspirational- 'Sprinkle'~

 Virginia's View- 'Embossing'~

Mixed Media Card Challenge-
There

 is a lot more amazing inspiration from the rest of the Design Team on the Add a Little Dazzle Blog.   Then why not join us and link up your creation?  You do not need to use craft metal, but if you have it we would love to see it!

Ready to try your own Add a Little Craft Metal?  

You can get yours HERE.  I thank you in 

advance if you purchase it from this link, as I get credit for it.  

Thank YOU! 

Have a blessed week!  

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-

Stamps- Altenew Hennah Elements, Our Daily Bread Designs Happy Spring

Paper- SU Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz

Ink - Versamark,  Pear Pizzazz, Memento Tuxedo Black

Other- Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Tall Grass Die and Fence and Grass Die Set, Heartfelt Creations Decorative Flower Pot Die, SU Vintage Wallpaper ef, Stampendous ep, Martha Stewart glitter

Adding a Little Dazzle to FMS

Good Morning!

Third post of the day and it is not even 9am!  I had to sneak in a card for Freshly Made Sketches.  I had been playing around with my Add a Little Dazzle craft metal and came up with this panel.  When I saw the sketch at FMS, I realized it would be perfect for this metal piece.

 

I dry embossed the image with an embossing folder inked up with Versamark.  I then heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  I colored the large central shell with Copics.  

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

Lee Ann  :)

Coloring!

Good Morning!

Happy March!  I know many of us are hoping that spring is right around the corner; yes, we just got hit with about 5 inches of snow here in St Louis.  I know, I know- it could be a lot worse!
A friend of mine's daughter is studying abroad in Sweden- talk about snow!  She is such a go getter and so willing to jump in with both feet.  I wanted to send her a card of encouragement.  She is an avid reader and English major, so I just had to use this image from StampinBella!

I paper pieced a   couple of pillows and  colored the rest with Copics.  I added a bit of ribbon, but since this has to go to Sweden, I did not add a bow to keep the bulkiness to a minimum.

I am linking her up to Bellarific Friday where the challenge week is 'ribbon or washi.
I am also linking up to the Challenge Blog over at 7 Kids College Fund for their Anything Goes challenge.
CAS on Sunday's challenge this week is 'Girl Power'.  Not sure if this is considered CAS or not by the team as there are colored images in the DT samples; gonna give it a whirl.  Sorry if I am breaking any rules!
The Pink Elephant's challenge this week is 'Girly Girl'.  

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lee Ann  :)

Woo Hoo!

Hi Everyone!

I am thrilled to have been asked by my friend, Lesley Croghan, to join the Design Team at The Challenge.

My son's birthday is this week, so I decided to use both the sketch and the colors from The Challenge to make his card~

What a great color combo!  I just love these colors together!  I decided to play with my Peerless watercolors and a stamp that I have had going on 3 years now, but never used.  I was always intimidated with coloring the image with Copics or Prismacolor Pencils, but the watercolors were a breeze and I love the results!
I am linking up to Seize the Birthday, where their challenge is, of course, birthday card, with a topping of masculine.
Sister Act Card Challenge is always 'Anything Goes'.  
Edit~  I just discovered the new challenge over at Virginia's View, which is 'Embossing', so am linking up there~

I hope you can join us his week, with either the sketch or the colors or both!  

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

Lee Ann  :)