Just Dance!

 

Hey there! We have a new challenge up at Just Us Girls today. This is {Trend Week} and we're looking for inked or sprayed backgrounds. I broke out the blending brushes and distress inks for this little number. Check it out!

After inking up my background panel, I stamped and heat embossed the swirls (DeNami). I used a pearl white acrylic paint to add some splatters. Next came the die cut oval (PPP) followed by popping everything onto a card base with foam backing. I love this sweet CASual Fridays ballerina! She reminds me of my two nieces. They took dance lessons from elementary through high school. I used to buy them a ballerina ornament every Christmas! 

 

Okay friends, it's your turn to get inky!

I can't wait to see the awesome backgrounds you create!

Doing my Happy Dance

Hi friends! I'm playing along with the ladies at the Color Hues challenge for the first time today. Their yellow and blue combination was calling my name.

I inked up this darling CAS-ual Fridays ballerina and sentiment for a festive shaker card. I love her little floral tutu! The shaker fillers, frame and border die cut are all by Pretty Pink Posh.

Spring is in the air here in Ohio as we hope to reach temperatures in the low 60s this week ~ happy dancing! Sweet P and I have plans for long afternoon walks after her lessons are finished. They'll probably be followed with front porch bubble blowing!

Pretty Pink Posh Shop @ Casual Fridays!

TGIF!! After more snow and cold days I'm ready for the weekend and the warm up we are "suppose" to have! In honor of the spring season I have an Easter card to share with you today. Pretty Pink Posh  is sponsoring the latest challenge at CAS-ual Fridays ~ Yay!! The team has put together clean and simple cards for the challenge using PPP products. And that's not all. There is a Pretty Pink Posh $20 gift certificate just waiting for the winner!

 

This Easter egg from Impression Obsession is one of my favorite images. The pretty little blooms and polka dot ribbon are so sweet. And I like the bit of grass it's nestled in! Before adding my focal image to the card, I wrapped a length of light pink Ruffle Ribbon around it. I love this ribbon, it ties into the prettiest bows! My label is from MFT and the sentiment is by Rubber Moon. I added just a few sequins to keep this design clean and simple. They're from the Springtime Mix.

 

That does it for me today, thanks for stopping by. I have a special post coming this weekend, I'll be sharing my creative space with you! Hope to see you then ~Lisa

Fusion #1 & CFC # 97 ~ Thanks!

Well hello! Did you know there's a new card challenge in town, it's called Fusion. They give you two choices, a sketch and an inspiration photo. You can pick either one or you can combine the two for fusion! Sounded interesting to me so I thought I would play along. For their first challenge I decided to go for fusion! Since I have chevrons and flowers I'm playing along with CAS-ual Fridays too!

Now you would think with all of the stamps, paper, washi and so on and so on that I have, there would have been some chevrons among the bunch. There was a bit of paper but it was the wrong color. What to do, what to do??? I had an Einstein moment...and kerpow fusion!!! I would use a single sentiment word to make my own chevrons!  I like the way it turned out too, hope you do! For the dark areas of the sketch I stamped an Impression Obsession bouquet of forget me nots and colored them using the photo colors then punched them out. To mimic the ruffly cake plate I backed them with a circle scallop punch. And that's it! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today, have a delightful weekend ~Lisa

10MCD #9 & CFC # 83 ~ Oh the Holiday Rush!

Well hello! Sorry things have been quiet here. Just trying to catch up on last minute holiday details, like getting a haircut, waiting in the bank drive-thru FOREVER (with only one car in front of me), trying to find some Christmas ribbon that isn't wired and going at a snails pace in traffic. You see...I think I have this bright little plan of getting these things done mid morning while most folks are at work or in school. You know move fast, getter done and get home. But I suppose several people had that same bright little plan ~HA! So I decided to gather my thoughts and make a card for the latest 10 Minute Craft Dash. Hey I was already off and running at a fast pace today (in my mind anyway) so why not keep up the momentum!!!

This little baby took me just shy of 9 minutes to make. These sweet jolly snowmen faces by Northwoods were stamped in gray, noses colored with a marker and then a glitter Gelly Roll pen and checks touched with pink chalk. My sentiment by Morning Star Stamps and this playful little snowflake from Impression Obsession were stamped with Momento Rose Bud ink. And last but not least ~ two strips of Washi tape and a sprinkling of gems!

I'm also entering this over at CAS-ual Fridays. They've paired up with Paulina at the 10 Minute Craft Dash this week ~ double the fun! Thanks for taking a peek today! ~Lisa

 

CQC #149, CFC #65 & RS #24 ~ Just for You!

Will someone please explain our weather to me. Yesterday it was only 63 and rainy...in the middle of August...63! It was 90 in April ~ isn't this supposed to be the other way around!!??!! Days like that call for card making and cookie baking! I have a card I made for the ColourQ and CAS-ual Fridays. Then I checked into my blog and discovered a new sketch over at Retro Sketches. I looked at my card again and thought hmmm...this might just squeak by there too, it's close, not exact, but what the heck! Take a peek and let me know what you think.

This is pretty self explanatory but here's what I used. My white card base is a square 4"x 4" with a Summer Starfruit panel on top of that. I die cut PTI limitless layers and stamped the white circle with an Endless Creations sentiment using leaf green ink. I think it's a great match for the Gumball Green. The scalloped circle is cut from Midnight Muse. My pretty flourish is by DeNami ~ love it! A fabulous chipboard button, gems for some shine and I'll enter this into all three challenges.

My hubby saw this and said he thinks it's one of the prettiest cards I've ever made!!! Swoon...sure love my guy ~ Lisa

CFC #62 ~ Smile!

It's been WAY TOO LONG since I've joined in the fun at CASual Fridays. But after seeing all of the fabulous inspiration and ideas I knew I had to throw my hat into the ring. And when I was finished my funkadelic little card did make me smile! I think I just created a new word ~hee! Take a peek.

Kinda cute huh! I started with a 4"x4" card base, then stamped the Hero Arts dotted circles and tiny PTI flower using fresh snow ink. My funky label was die cut with a PTI fillable frames die using this ancient paper of mine by Junk It. This was probably the first 6 x 6 paper pad I ever bought. Oh golly...I think this is where the addiction to all things in 6x6 pads began!! Look what you started Junk It LOL! I decided to bring out the bright teal in the paper by adding a MFT mini rolled rose using Hawaiian Shores felt from PTI. A wee sentiment banner with this perfectly pretty little word from the PTI tiny tags set speaks my reaction to this finished product! I hope you enjoy it too.

Thanks for popping in today ~Lisa

FMS #39, CQC#141 & CFC #57 ~ Wishing You Happiness!

Do you ever have those days that just float by and you wonder where the time has gone? That's been my whole week! I have good intentions of making cards for many challenges, but somehow the day gets away from me before I know it. So for that very reason I combined three challenges into one card. My design is from Freshly Made Sketches, the colors are from the ColourQ and I kept it CAS then added in some acetate for CAS-ual Fridays. Whew...that's a mouthful! But they all worked together!

I die cut two PTI simple circle borders; one in lucky limeade (cut in half) and one in bashful blue. I stamped this stitched circle by Endless Creations, punched it with a circle punch then die cut a circle from the center to create a window for the acetate. Another scalloped circle was punched from a swirly green Fancy Pants paper. My pretty little fish by Stamping Sensations was stamped, colored, fussy cut and popped up with foam tape. I added the acetate/punched circle layer over the fish with two layers of foam dots for lots of dimension. My sentiment is from the PTI: mat stack 4 collection. Some buttons from my stash added in for a punch of pizazz and that's it for me!

Have a delightful day ~Lisa

CFC #54 ~ Love You Dad!

Hello! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. Ours was pretty low key with the weather a hot humid 91... ICK!!! So I spent a little time crafting in the cool air-conditioning *wink*. I saw that CAS-ual Fridays was having a masculine card using designer paper challenge this week...count me in!

I spotted this fun western themed paper by October Afternoon a while back and knew it would go very well with my rootin tootin cowboy image by A Muse. My rick rack border (PTI) is also OA paper. I stamped  my cowboy on a Spellbinders labels 10 die cut and colored him with  markers and colored pencils. I added two of the sentiments from my PTI tiny tags stamp set. How do you like the rope treatment? I saved these from tags that were on our set of outdoor cushions that we bought for our wicker furniture at Pier One. I knew they would come in handy and I've already used them 3 or 4 times! I think they add a fun touch to my western themed cards. Finally a small stick on star from Hobby Lobby. My dad enjoys watching westerns, even old Bonanza reruns. So I think he'll enjoy this Father's Day card!

Have a delightful day! ~Lisa

CFC #51 & RS #10 ~ Happy Birthday!

Hi! I hope everyone had a pleasant weekend. My hubs and I had quiet together time and walks with Max! I snuck in a bit of crafting while they snuck in a nap! Today I have a card to share for the CAS-ual Fridays birthday celebration and I've used Retro Sketches to put it together.

This fun sketch was perfect to showcase this pretty October Afternoon paper. The stripe is the flip side. I used a circle punch to notch out a small spot for my ruffly Offray ribbon from Hobby Lobby. I attached two PTI tiny tags with a vintage safety pin. I love these little red flower gems, don't they add just the right touch of bling!

 Happy birthday Cas-ual Fridays!!! ~Lisa

PDCC #129 & CFC #50 ~ You Make Me Smile!

Hi friends, I'm back tonight with my second post for the day. If you're looking for the Polka Dot Door blog hop; please scroll down or click here! You know...I think this is the first time I've posted two projects in a day! And I'm getting this one in at the Play Date Cafe just under the wire. It also fits the bill for the theme of "April showers bring May flowers" at CAS-ual Fridays. I type this as distant rumbles of thunder echo and light rain drops begin!

I started this card by die cutting a circle then masking off the inner and outer portions to add the navy chalk. Again I masked to add the soft green to the inside of the card. I punched smaller circles in scrap paper to create the other scattered circles using chalk here as well. The smallest navy circles were created with Hero Arts stamp and navy chalk ink. The wispy flower is by Hero Arts and my sentiment is Inkadinkado. My purple butterflies were made with a Martha Stewart punch.

I want to extend a big warm welcome to my newest followers. And as always let all of my followers and visitors know how much I appreciate you. You, my dear friends,  certainly make me smile! ~ Lisa

PDCC #128 & CFC#49 ~ Always on My Mind!

Taaa-daaa!!! Well...what do you think of my blog make-over? I'm debuting it as I'm pairing up two fun challenges tonight with a happy little card I put together this past weekend. First up is the Play Date Cafe where they've given us the vibrant colors of Flamingo Pink & Bright Orange! Then there is a clean and simple sketch from CAS-ual Fridays. 

I was inspired by the polka dots (go figure huh!!!) and the frilly blooms in the bottom left of the inspiration photo. I cut a strip of  a fun bright orange fabric that is scattered with bright pink polka dots ~ how perfect! Next I hand stitched it and pulled it together to make my shabby bloom. This lovely butterfly is from the PTI: Pretty Peonies set (thanks Ally!) and is stamped in Memento: Rose Bud ink as is my sentiment from Stampin' Up. A few gems and a sparkly button complete the card.

Thanks for stopping by today ~Lisa

CFC #48 ~ Happy Monday!

Well hi there and a happy Monday to all! We have a pretty 75 degree day; a bit breezy but that made my long walk with Max this morning all the more enjoyable! Love to see those little schnauzer eyebrows plastered back and his little ears blowing behind him ~hee!! Butterflies, spring flowers and chirping birds ~ not to mention breaking out the flip flops again! Yeeesss...I walk Mr. Max in flip flops, have done it for years as they are my warm weather shoe of choice! Now down to card business. I put together this little number for the CAS-ual Friday's challenge this week...opposites attract.

I chose the darkest blue and it's opposite of a pretty golden yellow. I kicked me blue shade up a notch because I knew I wanted to use this sweet October Afternoon night sky paper (die cut with Spellbinders label 18). Love this pretty navy blue with the tiny scattered stars. And aren't my parachuting DeNami chickies fun!!! Looks like their on secret night maneuvers ~HA!  I used Stickles on their parachutes and the bottom one is fussy cut and popped up. This wavy sentiment on my PTI banner die is by Stampin' Up. And lastly a few gems to add more twinkle.

A have a couple of new followers who fluttered in over the weekend. Welcome ladies!! Thanks for visiting and have a happy Monday ~Lisa

CFC #46 ~ Name That Tune!

What a fun theme they've give us at Cas-ual Fridays this week...name that tune! Make a card based on a song, how fun is that??!! When I saw this one stamp and one song instantly popped to mind! My quirky little horse from Magenta and the song by America: A Horse With No Name!!

                                     On the first part of the journey                                      

I was looking at all the life

There were plants and birds and rocks and things

There was sand and hills and rings

The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz

And the sky with no clouds

The heat was hot and the ground was dry

But the air was full of sound

I've been through the desert on a horse with no name

It felt good to be out of the rain

In the desert you can remember your name

'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain

                                                                              La, la,la...

                                           

Isn't this little fella a hoot!! I don't have a cactus stamp so I drew my own using October Afternoon paper. What's more fun than a polka dot cactus ~ heee! I used this scrap of wavy paper I had to mimic the ripply blown sands of the desert. My sun was made with the negative of a circle punch and chalk. To give it the look of a glaring desert sun I rubbed my Gelly Roll glittery pen on my finger and then rubbed and pulled it from the sun. I did this several times. Just a sun...no clouds as the song says! I gave my "unnamed horse" a touch of glitter pen here and there. His saddle was glazed, crumpled slightly (for a worn leathery look) and popped up for a bit of interest. The pesky "fly with a buzz" is a stick stamp from Stamps by Judith as well as the grass and rocks.

I really enjoyed making it this. Can't get the song out of my head...it's been there for three days. I even woke up in the middle of the night and it was there!!! Happy singing ~Lisa

*I would also like to send a shout out and thank you to Suzanne who was kind enough to honor me with another Liebster award! Stop pay to show her some blog love!!
 

CFC #45 ~ Happy Monday!

Hi there and a happy Monday to you all! Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. Ours was the stay snuggled in at home relaxing kind. Our only outings were church and walks with Max! I did a bit of crafting while the hubs and Max grabbed a nap and have a fun little project for the latest CAS-ual Fridays challenge. This week we are asked to use one pastel and black.

This is a simple project. An inexpensive note pad that I've covered with a piece of black dotted swiss paper. My Papertrey Ink Mat Stack 4 die cut was stamped with the coordinating text pattern. I think the picture is on an angle because the die looks off center! But it's on their straight kids...really!!! Next I die cut and stamped their large simple sunflower using a pastel golden yellow chalk ink. I added a black velvet button to the center for some added interest then a Stickled bumble bee for a touch of glitz! This combo was added to the label with foam tape. And there you have it ~ easy peasy.  Something cute to go by the phone or give as a little gift!

Have a delightful day friends ~Lisa

CFC #43 ~ Sweetness!

Hi there! I'm getting this card in under the wire for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge. My mojo has been in slow motion for the last couple of days. But I couldn't let this one slip by as the ever so sweet Julie Ranae is stepping down from the design team. The challenge this week is to make our sentiment front and center. Here's my take on it.

This one's for you Julie as you have always spread sweetness and encouragement in your comments on my blog. Your work continues to inspire me every time I pop in to visit your Open Window. My sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts and the ever so cute cupcake is Stamps by Judith ~ they're colored with markers and then "frosted" with fruit punch Stickles! A few snippets of scrap paper and some heart buttons to show Julie a little love, then finished off with a touch of bling.

That's it for me friends ~Lisa

PDCC #121 & CFC #42 ~ Baby Bunny Card!

Hi there! I have a sweetie pie card to share today that I put together for the Play Date Cafe and CAS-ual Fridays challenges. The colors given to us by the PDC gals and the baby card theme at CF went perfectly together. Love it when I can make challenges work together for one card!

 

I just love this precious little baby bunny stamp from PSX, it's one of my oldest. So I pulled it out for this card and ran with the colors! My card is a mini measuring 3 3/4" x 3 3/4". My reason for this was the perfect piece of swiss dot sand colored cardstock I had leftover from a previous project. I layered a PTI scalloped border die cut from October Afternoon paper then added a panel of floral Grafics 45 paper. I inked up my bunny with a creamy brown chalk ink and stamped it off once to soften the color to a sandy shade before stamping the image for the card. I punched this with a Marvey oval punch then backed it with the scalloped oval (also Marvey) using the same OA text paper. The oval piece is added with foam tape for dimension. This tiny satin ribbon is from Archivers, the button from my stash and the tag stamped with a PTI word is by Martha Stewart.

That's it for now friend, thanks for popping by ~Lisa

CFC#37 ~ Bouquet of Love!

Hello! I have an early Valentine to share, something sweet and flowery. I decided to follow the cute sketch from the CAS-ual Fridays challenge this week.

I started with a card base made from a very soft pink paper from Lasting Impressions. I cut my square panel of red cardstock then layered on a piece of floral paper from The Girls Paperie. I topped this with a stamped tag using a fun corner stamp I've had for years by All Night Media. I colored this with Tombow markers and a touch of a glitter Gel pen for some sparkle. The sentiment is Impression Obsession. This fabulous floral tape is Martha Stewart.
I added the small piece of doily at the last second because I thought my panel was much smaller than the one in the sketch! 

That's it for now friend...easy peasy!! ~Lisa

PDCC #114 & CFC #35 ~ To Brighten Your Day!

Whew...I'm exhausted from making this very simple card LOL!!! Burgundy, gold and plum ~ rich regal colors from the Play Date Cafe that gave me royal fits! I don't know where my brain was for most of the weekend, but I could not get anything to look right using this combo. I finally decided that less was definitely going to be more for me on this one. But you know what...I think it worked and I like it. That being the case I made it a two for one card and am playing along at Cas-ual Fridays where scallops are being used.

   

                     
This deep rich burgundy damask is from the MME Lost and Found: Christmas collection. I used a medium scallop border die from PTI on the top edge. Next I punched several scalloped squares with a fun Martha Stewart punch from this old gold floral paper from Basicgrey's: Wisteria collection. I lined them up and stamped them with Hero Arts leafy vine stamp using eggplant chalk ink. Then I embossed them with clear embossing powder. My sentiment by Stampendous is stamped with the same chalk ink and also embossed. A few gold gems to add to the regalness (is that a word ~hee!) of my card finally brought a sigh of relief.

When all is said and done on this one I look back at the challenge it gave me and it was worth it. It's good to push the old creative brain from time to time! And trust me; this weekend my brain felt old!!!

Have a pleasant day friends ~Lisa