I {heart} a Good Garland!

Here is a really QUICK card base, garlands garlands, stamped in two tones of ink... then it was just a case of cutting out my pre-coloured girlie, adding a little border, and second pass of hearts and a little ribbon and rhinestones coloured with a Copic to match the dress...

This one is all about the garland girl for me... couldn't resist buying these the minute I saw them!!!

What's in it? 
Stamps:  The Greeting Farm:  Garland Anyas; Flutter Heart
Paper:  Echo Park: Yours Truly; SU: Kraft; XPressIt: Blending Card
Ink:  SU: Real Red, Pixie Pink; Copic Markers
Extras:  White Grosgrain; Kaiser: Rhinestones; MFT: DieNamics--Well Worn

Mischief Makers--Which Cameo?

Lots of stamping is encouraged with this week's Waltingmouse Sketch Challenge, I opted to make a splash with a grouping of frames and cameos, even squeezing a mother & daughter combination into one of them.  I really like topper elements too, this time I went with a passing of lush pleated ribbon, and a strip of stamped contrasting card to break the brown ribbon and the brown scallops, which were made from stamping a row of doily stamps and hand cutting to make the scallops.  I particularly like this doily for this as it has little scalloped edges as well, or can have if you opt to cut them that way.

I really love yellow lately, so this card started with a piece of yellow card and gravitated to brown, how not unusual... but I like all the same!  Hope you find time to play this week, do link up if you do, and hopefully you will be this week's lucky winner!

Thanks for stopping in...

What's in it? 
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps: Fancy Phrases, Cameo Maker, Oval Classic Frames, Dainty Doilies 2
Paper:  SU: So Saffron, Early Espresso
Ink:  SU: Early Espresso, Close to Cocoa
Extras:  May Arts: Pleated Ribbon, Twine; PTI: Yellow Button; Vintage Brown Button.

Cheers to Paper Piecing!

Here we go with another Birthday Card, this time I took on the Paper Sundaes Challenge #104 to Paper Piece, I have always liked paper pieced dresses, and this was a good opportunity to add a touch of pink to a black based paper line, great to have tiny little polkas on this paper so that it is in scale with the image too!

I also took on the XPressIt Challenge to use Clear Gel adhesive which is not really a challenge for me, makes securing 3D paper flowers a dream!

I have recently worked through a huge bag of vintage "things" that I was handed a few years back, I knew there were some gems in there, it took me a few hours in front of the tennis to sort it all out and roll and separate the finds into my colour families, but I thoroughly enjoyed it... many lovely bits of lace and ribbon and a LOT of seam binding, so expect to be seeing that used in a variety of ways... I even kept some of the vintage packaging to use on some cards... that should be fun!

Here's to a good finds and fun paper techniques!

What's in it? 
Stamps:  My Favorite Things: a la Modes--Cheers
Paper:  Basic Grey: Little Black Dress Collection; Kaiser Miss Nelly Collection; SU: Pixie Pink
Ink:  Memento: Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers; Spica Pen
Extras:  MFT: DieNamics: Textile Rectangle, Rolled Scallop Flower, Oval Open Scallop Doily; Kaiser: Black Lace, Rhinestones; Annabelle's Stamps: Rhubarb Sprinkles; Vintage Pink Seam Binding; May Arts: Twine; XPressIt: Clear Gel.

Pay it Forward...Happy Mail Style

1 Place Left!

Places have gone to:

• Janet from MB, Canada
• Sandi C from NSW Australia
• Barbara from QLD Australia
• Lorie aka The Peddler from Maryland, USA
• Who will take the final place?

So I tried this on Facebook, but no takers, thought I might try if anyone in blogland wanted to participate... Thanks to MicheyMoo for this idea of PAY IT FORWARD...

The Script:
Pay it Forward in 2012--I will make something handmade for the first five people to comment on this post.  You in turn, must also pay forward, by either pasting a similar message to your blog or making 5 things for those outside of your circle of "live in the same place" friends, you know people you don't normally gift to.  Only rule is that the item has to be made by you and it has to reach recipients by the end of 2012... I can guarantee mine will...

Does anyone want happy mail from me?

Just leave a comment on this post, but make sure your return email is not blocked otherwise I won't be able to get into contact with you to get your delivery details, thanks!

HB Bro

Here is a little CAS card that I made for my brother for his birthday... I originally had plans to centre something in each of the squares, but then decided on this space paper which is perfect for him, and decided it was best left to shine... I like the quilted look and the sentiment was just right for the top space.

Not much to this, bar carefully cutting the paper into 9 squares, inking and distressing the edges, rebuilding the puzzle and adding the sentiment, which is stamped on Kraft and coloured with Copics... the twine border to finish!

Thanks for stopping by!

What's in it? 
Stamps:  Unity: The Right Words 
Paper:  October Afternoon: Rocket Age--Space Station; Kraft; Basic Red
Ink:  Memento: Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers; Distress: Frayed Burlap
Extras:  May Arts: Twine; Beutron: Button.

Mischief Makers--Reject or Frame?

Time for another Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, this week I used the sketch but incorporated a frame and dropped the centre panel into the frame.  This frame is actually the waste from an actual chipboard frame, I don't throw these out 'cause they are good for this type of use I think.... it means the card is not a traditional size, but nothing a hand folded envelope won't manage!

So I covered the frame and the centre square in co-ordinating paper and stamped off the cake for the centre panel, adding some pearls to some of the flowers and a dot of a Copic Marker to the centre of others.  The sentiment is hung between the outer frames and in place of the stitching element I wrapped twine around both ends and edged with a scallop border punch to tie in with the reverse scallop of the frame.

I hope you like this and get time to play along this week, don't forget to link up to win!

What's in it?
Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps:  Eat Cake, Big Day Additions
Paper:  Prima:  Alla-Prima Collection; Fibre Board
Ink:  Memento: Rich Cocoa; SU: Tempting Turqouise, Crumb Cake, Marigold Morning; Copic Markers
Extras:  Bella: Chips; Kaiser: Pearls; May Arts: Twine; EK Success: Scallop Scallops Punch; Basic Grey: File Kit.

LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 6--D is for Dream

Leanne Ellis Stamps are soooo dreamy!  Faraway Thoughts is today's featured stamp and doesn't that look into the distance just melt into a dream... I {heart} this image, one of my faves from Leanne and I saved it for today, the last post in my LOVE LEANNE Stampede... I hope you have enjoyed this little display... watch this space, I think a Take Two is in order to show off some of my other LE images... they are too good not to!

Here is the first post in the LOVE LEANNE Stampede Feature... in case you need a little background info!

I used stronger colours on this one because I wanted to pair it with some black elements and accents, and the Sass Lass paper was screaming to be used with this image I thought!!!  I hand cut a black mat for the image and extended it with one end of a spellbinders tag, this sits atop a strip of one of my fave embellishments, artisan elements, they colour up with Copics really well, in this case I used a lighter red in the embossed areas and ran a darker colour over the surface to give a two tone effect.

I finished off the detailing with some OTT messy black stitching that went right to the edge of the two paper layers, even adding some to the sentiment tag, I like black stitching!!!

Some twine and a "button, button, pearl" combo atop the tag, and if you look really closely some 3D stars from the artisan elements coloured up with yellow and added to the top of the image...

I really hope you have enjoyed this week, I have thoroughly enjoyed using these images and taking the time to colour them properly... watch this space for Part Two, until then here are the Leanne Links once again:

So here is my Leanne Ellis enabling message:

Rubber Stamps are sold through Sugar Nellie at FunkyKits

Digital Stamps are sold via Leanne Ellis Stamps

You can also look at Leanne's Work via the following sites:

Carbonmade

Leanne's Blog

Etsy Shop

What's in it?
Stamps:  Leanne Ellis: Faraway Thoughts; Verve: Words of Wisdom
Paper:  Sassafras Lass: Sweet Marmalade; XPressIt: Blending Card; SU: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight.
Ink:  Memento: Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers
Extras:  Pink Paislee: Artisan Elements--Borders; Sewing Machine and Black Cotton; Kate's Paperie: Black Grosgrain; May Arts: Black Twine; Hand Cut Tag; Buttons: One by PaperTrey, One Vintage; Kaiser: Pearl; Spellbinders: Shapeabilities--Fancy Tags.

LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 5--E is for Especially

Leanne Ellis Stamps put an "E" out the front of "special"!  True Love is today's featured stamp, one of my very first LE Stamps, and it is that outreached flower that says "Especially for You", every time...

Here is the first post in the LOVE LEANNE Stampede Feature... in case you need a little background info!

I went way out of my comfort zone and coloured the BG in this one blue... what this really says to me is that I need more BG Copics, but I managed to fade out the poorly blended transitions with some stippling with the blending marker, took some colour out and added to the bubbled effect... the water bubbles are glossed with XPressIT Clear Gel, I took the colour out of them with a blender before adding the glue.  I also used the glue to scroll the twine for the hair corsage... and to add the itty little bits of bling...

I wouldn't normally have spotlighted on this card, given the image is all colour, but I was right at the end of colouring and adding a couple of bits of dark brown to the hairline and a super blob of ink decided to excrete all over the face of this one... considering I had spent so much time on the blue colouring I couldn't face throwing it out, so went with this technique.... which allowed me to change up the hair colour which I wasn't overly happy with anyway!

I have only ever pop coloured the rose when using this image, so it was great to give full colour a go... I want to do her in mono too, will try that next time!

So here is my Leanne Ellis enabling message:

Rubber Stamps are sold through Sugar Nellie at FunkyKits

Digital Stamps are sold via Leanne Ellis Stamps

You can also look at Leanne's Work via the following sites:

Carbonmade

Leanne's Blog

Etsy Shop

Thanks for taking a look, see you soon!

What's in it?
Stamps:  Leanne Ellis: True Love; MFT: Sentiment
Paper:  XpressIt: Blending Card; Prima: Paisley Road; SU: Early Espesso, Kraft; Vellum
Ink:  Memento: Rich Cocoa; Copic Markers
Extras:  XPressIt; Clear Gel; MFT: Dienamics--Rolled Rose Lg, File Tab Quartet; Spellbinders: Nestabilities--Wavy Rectangles; Annabelle Stamp's: Silver Sprinkles; May Arts: Pleated Ribbon, Twine; Beige Ribbon.

LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 4--T is for Thankful

Leanne Ellis Stamps make me very thankful for my little world of creativity!  Wild Rose is today's featured stamp and its off-beat approach to giving screams for the fact that you can be a little left of centre and still be full of love and loveliness!

Here is the first post in the LOVE LEANNE Stampede Feature... in case you need a little background info!

I continue to struggle to use purple... but I tried!  Part of the struggle is the obvious lack of supplies, I don't exactly buy purple things "just because"!!  But I found some core to emboss, and then there is that dreaded ribbon, which I am happy to report I am down to my last length, one more card and that baby will be successfully used, as in completely, as in didn't waste any, even though I have been tempted to throw it out on many an occasion!!!

I left a straight edge around the image this time, with an embossed border and paired this with some neutral paper, and a pass of much neglected lace.  I decided on a sentiment right at the end and reached for these pre-punched tiny tags, which I keep in a stash all cut out in XpressIt Blending Card, this means I can colour them at any time to match what I am working on, in this case with two shades of Copic Purple, adding the "Wish" right at the end...

So here is my Leanne Ellis enabling message:

Rubber Stamps are sold through Sugar Nellie at FunkyKits

Digital Stamps are sold via Leanne Ellis Stamps

You can also look at Leanne's Work via the following sites:

Carbonmade

Leanne's Blog

Etsy Shop

Until tomorrow!

What's in it?
Stamps:  Leanne Ellis: Wild Rose; Papertrey: Tiny Tags
Paper:  Coredinations: Purple; Basic Grey: Little Black Dress; SU: Lovely Lilac; XPressIt: Blending Card
Ink:  Memento: Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers: Papertrey: Antique Linen
Extras:  Pearls by Mark Richards; Papertrey: Tiny Tags Dies, Purple Ribbon; Random Lace; Tim Holtz Alterations: Texture Fades--Damask.

LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 3--F is Forever

Leanne Ellis Stamps allow you to believe in forever!  Time Flies is today's featured stamp and even though the clock has wings it makes me think that time might fly but if it can fly forever that will be OK too... or at the very least we need to make haste with living the life we have imagined!

Here is the first post in the LOVE LEANNE Stampede Feature... in case you need a little background info!

I wanted to make the dress mono with the hope of it not taking centre stage... and using a new set of blues (eewwwww) kinda didn't allow that direction to evolve... not to worry...  I do love the little hair flower and the sunny flower peaking up from the bottom of this image!  I decided to use the sentiment to fill some of the vacant space, splitting the one sentiment in the two pockets of space...

As for the acetate clock, I had these marked as "likely not to use", so happy I found a place for one of them at least!  Not much room left on this card and I didn't want another sentiment or run of ribbon so I went with a paper strip and a string of vintage black buttons, love these!

So here is my Leanne Ellis enabling message:

Rubber Stamps are sold through Sugar Nellie at FunkyKits

Digital Stamps are sold via Leanne Ellis Stamps

You can also look at Leanne's Work via the following sites:

Carbonmade

Leanne's Blog

Etsy Shop

Thanks for taking a look today... more tomorrow!

What's in it?
Stamps:  Leanne Ellis: Time Flies; Verve: Words of Wisdom
Paper:  Fancy Pants: Off to School; Kaiser: Miss Nellie Collection; XPressIt: Blending Card
Ink:  Memento: Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers; Distress: Antique Linen
Extras:  Kiaser: 13th Hour Acetate Sheets; Vintage Buttons; May Arts: Black Twine; Paper Piercing Kit.

LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 2--I is for Imagine

Leanne Ellis Stamps bring out the will to imagine!  Wish is today's featured stamp and doesn't she make you imagine just what this wish could be... anything you want is of course the answer, because that is what a wish is all about!

Here is the first post in the LOVE LEANNE Stampede Feature... in case you need a little background info!

I just got this paper, purchased for its focus on pink, red and brown, what a stellar combination!!!  My "Wish Girl" often gets this colour combination... and although it totally does my head in, I absolutely love the fact that her buttons are askew... and look at the hands, just like she has taken a very deep breath and she is slowly exhaling as her wish is formed, LOVE in a box this image!!!

I used little corner brackets to frame the image this time... deepening their colour with one of the Copics I used for the skirt... and I felt some distressing was in order given I have been refraining lately!  And.... although ridiculously expensive I {heart} the pre-pleated ribbon, speedy!

For those of you who read along with the Daisy Chain Scrapbook's Newsletter, this is one of those times when I "Got My Brown On".... here's a link to an article I wrote (for those who haven't subscribed yet)... this one was called For the Love of Brown... there will be a new article each month this year..... subscribe from the front page if you like!

And here again is my Leanne Ellis enabling message:

Rubber Stamps are sold through Sugar Nellie at FunkyKits

Digital Stamps are sold via Leanne Ellis Stamps

You can also look at Leanne's Work via the following sites:

Carbonmade

Leanne's Blog

Etsy Shop

Until tomorrow...

What's in it?
Stamps:  Leanne Ellis: Wish
Paper:  Basic Grey: Kissing Booth; XPressIt: Blending Card; Kraft
Ink:  Memento: Rich Cocoa; Copic Markers
Extras:  Spellbinders: Shapeabilities--Lace Doily AccentsMay Arts: Pleated Ribbon, Chocolate Twine; Vintage Button; Distressing Tool.

LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 1--G is for Grace

Here is the first post in the LOVE LEANNE Stampede Feature... in case you need a little background info!

Leanne Ellis Stamps have style and grace and give me the warmest embrace!  Belle Flower is today's featured stamp and how graceful is she... I love how dainty she looks in this dress and the kindness in the way the flower is offered...

I really wanted to try to keep embellishments to a minimum on this card so the focus remained on the image, so I went with a gentle weave for the background, and a simple pass of lace with my customary twine and button to hold the sentiment.

There is a gentle border around the background paper, just a simple embossed line all the way around with my well used ScorPal, sweet!

Girly hey!!??  I really had to stop myself from putting tiny little bits of bling all over the skirt on this one... something for next time I get this little beauty out!

And I must also say, praise to the Copic E40's, some of my newest loves!!

So here is my Leanne Ellis enabling message:

Rubber Stamps are sold through Sugar Nellie at FunkyKits
Digital Stamps are sold via Leanne Ellis Stamps

You can also look at Leanne's Work via the following sites:
Carbonmade
Leanne's Blog
Etsy Shop

I hope you enjoyed this post and will come back throughout the week for a little more... in the mean time have fun looking through the wonders of Leanne's work, enjoy!

What's in it?
Stamps:  Leanne Ellis Stamps: Belle Flower; Waltzingmouse Stamps: You're Lovely (Sentiment)
Paper:  XPressIt: Blending Card; October Afternoon: Five & Dime; SU: Pink Pirouette
Ink:  Memento: Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers
Extras:  ScorPal; May Arts: Twine; Beutron: Buttons; Bella: Bling; Lace via Etsy.

Mischief Makers--A Dress and a Wish

It was great to see so many great entries in last week's sketch challenge, the mojo was dust free.... this week we have a little sketch that can be worked in many ways.... so check out this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge and play along for your chance to win a free stamp set!!

I opted to use a flat panel top and bottom and incorporate the little squares as stripes of colour.... a run of different pink and red copics over the gingham stamp, different sizes top and bottom... I have been dreaming about this dress so it got an outing, paper pieced this time; with a background doily and some straight up stamping for the sentiment... check out that bright ribbon, have had that for a while, unused.... but thanks to the clean and cull of my ribbon supply, old things are new again!!

Don't forget to link up to win!

What's in it? 
Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps:  You're Lovely, Dainty Doilies 2, Big Day Additions, Gingham & Co
Paper:  XPressIt: Blending Card; Echo Park: Your Truly; SU: Pixie Pink, Basic Black
Ink:  Memento: Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers; SU: Pretty in Pink
Extras:  Imaginisce: Pink Ruffle Ribbon; Zva: Crystal Scroll.

I Gifted myself a Gift, called Gifted…. from one who is Gifted!

I have long admired the work of Leanne Ellis, she reads my thoughts in her illustrations and has a sweep of a pencil that speaks to me!  I have for a very long time thought of seeking an original for my "collection" and finally decided to "just ask" figuring the worst that could happen is she would say no…. but she is so much nicer that that!!! 


So we had a little communication, we came to an agreement, and she went to work; and I waited patiently for my very own version of Gifted to arrive…. Leanne didn't make me wait as long as I originally anticipated, and my gift to myself was sent on the journey across the oceans just after Christmas, and she arrived today… it took a lot of willpower, that I really don't possess, to carefully and patiently remove the abundance of protective packaging… oh my she is lovely beyond words…


The start of the year has been rather a "dark" one for me, but today I carry around a glow of happiness… not a sunshine-y bright happiness 'cause I can do without the light… rather a spectrum of greys and silver and thought provoking imagery, somewhat like I imagine peace should be… so a very sincere thank you to the very Gifted Leanne, gorgeous work and perfect timing!

I was first introduced to Leanne through her stamp images which I, of course, LOVE!  But I must say that I always lacked the patience to colour them… or more to the point to invest the time to colour them properly… but I have rectified that over the last couple of weeks and will be hosting a little LOVE LEANNE Stampede.  I figured a good way to show thanks for my gift which really is called "Gifted" is to have one card for every letter of the title, so six days of cards featuring Leanne Ellis designs, starting this Sunday.

January 15th LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 1--G is for Grace

January 16th LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 2--I is for Imagine

January 17th LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 3--F is for Forever

January 18th LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 4--T is for Thankful 

January 19th LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 5--E is for Especially

January 20th LOVE LEANNE Stampede Day 6--D is for Dream

I am off to enjoy my newest most prized possession… I hope you will join me in the week to come as I celebrate my favourite illustrator… I will provide links to Leanne's stamps and work with my forward posts, until then…..

Master W--Super Hero!

Here is a little card I put together just before Christmas for a little Super Hero.... I had the hair on this image already done from a practice session, and rushed the rest of the colouring by the looks of the photo, but said Super Hero didn't notice at all.... everything about being 3 is fun!!

What's in it? 
Stamps:  La La Land: Star Boy Luka; Waltzingmouse Stamps: Gingham & Co
Paper:  XpressIt: Blending Card; October Afternoon: Rocket Age; SU: Ruby Red
Ink:  Memento: Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers
Extras:  Thickers; SU: Square and Scallop Square Punch; May Arts: Twine.

Mischief Makers--Take Care Please

It is time to begin another year of Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenges, so get down to it with the Mischief Makers and whip up a little bit of paper beauty using this sketch.... swap out the circle element for whatever shape that pleases you, I used a pair of labels from different sets, and added a flower and flashy buttons to make this the feature.  I used a combination of direct stamping and paper strips for the horizontal elements, and some faux stitching in place of what I would normally gravitate too for this type of sketch, lace....

Make it your own, and link up to win!

Good luck with the prize drawer and I look forward to seeing your little bits of mischief throughout 2012!

What's in it? 
Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps: Nordic Winter, Say it Loud, Vintage Labels No.18, Holiday Labels No.14
Paper:  Kaiser: Lil' Primrose Collection; Kraft
Ink:  Stampin' Up!: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Extras:  May Arts: Ribbon Flower; Random: Glitz Buttons.

Starting the Year with a TWEET....

... because Tweeters are my absolutely favourite thing in the whole wide world!!!  I put this card together for an MFT Guest DT Challenge which was to Paper Piece.... once upon a time I would paper piece before I would colour... but that was before Copics, so it was lovely to see this challenge and get to it!!

I paper pieced the little lady's dress and the little tweeter, just so he could be a blue bird, thankfully the little lovely fit nicely in between the darker blue dots on the matching paper, perfect!   I lined up the paper for the dress so that the diagonals would centre on the image, so easy to do with clear stamps.... and I still got to squeeze in a little Copic love for the rest of the image, gotta love that too!!

And paper piecing for me is also a nudge to do one of my other fave things which is to weave paper, now I normally do this with scraps but I actually cut into full sheets for this one... must be a new year!!  I fancied up the weave with a few passes of tape and glitter too!

My little obsession with MFT Die-Namics is spreading it's wings too, I don't count how many I have any more, I just keep them coming home to my place.... in this little card I used vellum to back the girlie, cutting out one of the layers in a label bundle... and then doubled up one of my new mini tabs for the sentiment, and then my newest fave was squeezed on too, love the fringing in this flower.... happy sigh!!

So this is Happy New Year to you all from me, may 2012 provide more time for paper fondling and blurfing, for both you and me!!

What's in it? 
Stamps:  My Favorite Things: Pure Innocence--You're So Tweet 
Paper:  Crate Paper: Farmhouse Collection;Kraft; Basic White; Vellum
Ink:  Memento: Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers; Spica Pens
Extras:  MFT: Die-Namics: Fringed Perennial, Mini Tabs Quartet, Well Worn Greetings; Random Rhinestones; XpressIt: 6mm and 3mm tape and very fine glitter; May Arts: Brown Twine.