CPS Sketch Challenge #194-In Stitches....

I was surfing around yesterday and stumbled upon this open ended sketch at the Card Positioning Systems.  I wanted to make something vintage and tried some faux stitching...my stitching needs some serious practice and believe me, it would look worse if I actually tried to use a sewing machine, although at this point, it really would be a toss up.  The card was coming together nicely until I added the stitching...sigh...why didn't I resist the urge to stitch.

I used the Bells and Boughs set (my favourite) and added some of the Deck the Halls DSP.

Yesterday was a busy day! I finished my Report Cards on Saturday and so spent yesterday, re-reading them...to make sure everything was in order.  On Friday we had our first snowfall and it is so pretty outside but cold!  This morning is crisp and pretty, the sky is full of grayness and I think there maybe more snow on the way for us!  Lots on the ground right now.

Only 32 days until Christmas Eve!  Eek!  I am seriously behind on my Christmas Shopping.  My husband's family is in Ontario and I need to get my shopping done so I can send their gifties out in the mail.  Last year we spent Christmas with them and had a lovely time.  My mother-in-law Linda is Mrs. Claus!  She dresses up and has lots of fun making Christmas special!  It was awesome!  I need to get myself in gear and get my own Mrs. Claus outfit ready...it really adds to the Spirit of Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of my sideways stitching...maybe it is endearing somehow....maybe?!!!

Smiles,

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Bells and Boughs, All Holidays (sentiment) and En Francais
Paper: Deck the Halls DSP, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and Naturals Ivory
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Cherry Cobbler, Black, Crumb Cake, Stampin' Write Marker in Cherry
Tools: Big Shot, Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Mat Pack, Piercing Tool, Sponges

Christmas Card Class Creations

I thought I would have some fun and share some of the cards I have made for the card classes I have coming up.  I decided to add these to the current Paper Players Challenge "Anything Goes" so I could share with my pals!!   I also am adding them to the challenge over at Mark's Finest Papers.  This is a new challenge for me!  They are looking for a holiday card!!  I love this little snowman from the Holiday Mini Catalogue!  You can't tell in the photo but he has glitter on him!! So cute!  I wish I had more time to write today but I am off to work!

I hope you have a good week! Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world!

Smiles,

Stamping 411 Sketch

Wow...school just started and now I am into my classroom routine.  I feel like I finally have time to breathe and to make some cards!!!  I was really inspired by the Stamping 411 Sketch.  Actually, I was inspired by their last few sketches...but life has not allowed for card making!!  I wanted to start with the Bells and Boughs set.  I love it.  I used it to make a simple background paper for my card.  I also inked up the French Script in Crumb Cake and tried to create some of my own designer paper.  This Bells and Boughs set is such a clean stamping set.  The images are beautiful as background images and do not always need to be coloured.

So I made my background piece and then made the small rectangle images using the Spotlighting Technique.  Basically I stamped the same images and overlapped them, colouring only the overlapped parts of the image...so spotlight the poinsettias.  I also used lots of sponging with Crumb Cake Ink to give the card have an old fashioned feel.  I flipped the ribbon and the brads to fit my images better.  I stuck true to the main design.  It is a neat sketch.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Smiles,
Lesley

Christmas Card

Here is another card I created using the "Bells and Boughs" stamp set that is in the Holiday Mini Catalogue.  I love the Poinsettia image and I also used the retired background stamp called "Linen" to add a subtle effect to the Old Olive Cardstock.  I noticed that this card was very close to the Stampin' 411 sketch this week!!!  I couldn't enter it over there because that wouldn't be honest!!  So I will add it here, on my blog...I hope you like it!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Season of Joy (sentiment), Bells and Boughs, Linen BG stamp (retired)
Paper: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive and Pear Pizzazz markers, Crumb Cake for sponged edges, Early Espresso for Sentiment
Tools: Oval and Scallop Oval Punches, Scalloped Edge Punch
Extras: Victoria Lace Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley

Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge #61

I finally got the chance to stamp today with my good friend Glenda.  We have not stamped together forever and it was nice to sit and chat and share all the tips and things we have found on the internet and from other stampers.

I wanted to use the Bells and Boughs set today.  It was the first thing I ordered for Christmas and I LOVE the way it stamps, it has a lot of fine detail and those are the kind of stamps I love.  Today I used the Pals Paper Arts Sketch and stamped the Holly Stamp from the Bells and Boughs set onto Very Vanilla Paper.  I inked it up in Early Espresso and coloured it with my Old Olive and Real Red Markers.  The card base is Cherry Cobbler.  This sketch is perfect for mass producing a Christmas Card and I think I will use this sketch again!!  I sponged all the edges in Espresso.  The Ribbon is from the Holiday Mini and it called "Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding".  I LOVE the way it ties!!!

Here is the sketch...

And here is my card...

The best thing about Stampin' Up is that everything matches...so I used the beautiful new designer paper in the Holiday Mini called Deck the Halls.  The Bells and Boughs stamp set matches the images in the Designer Paper perfectly.

Thank you for stopping by!

Smiles,

Lesley

Stamp-A-Holics Sketch 133

This week's Stamp-A-Holics Challenge is a sketch created by ME!!  I love creating sketches, it is so much fun!  So I was pleased to be able to have a turn at creating one for the Stamp-A-Holic Challenge! Recently I took a little break from my DT duties at the Stamp-A-Holics Challenge, I just needed a long break...and spent July traveling with my husband and August getting a new Challenge Blog up and running of my own!  Carole'Anne and Sandi are just the best!  They supported me while I was off and I appreciated it!!!  Thanks ladies!!

Now, onto the sketch.  I wanted to create something clean and simple that could be added to!  The circle that is there can be any shape...and doesn't need to hide...it was just an idea...of course any sketch can be intrepreted!

This is my 10 minute card turned into 27 minutes....I was rushing!!!  I used my new Music Notes Wheel and wheeled in Cherry Cobbler all over the Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  Then I inked up a new set called "Bells and Boughs" from the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalogue in Early Espresso and stamped on top of the Cherry Music Notes...I created my own DSP. 

Then I cut a piece of Very Vanilla...2 1/4" x 4" for the strip...and stamped the main image in Espresso, sponging the edges with Crumb Cake.  Then I rubbed my versamark pad all over that piece, poured some Clear Embossing Powder on it and heated it up with my Heat Gun.  I was left with a shiny, vintage looking piece.  I decided to make an A2 box to hold a set of these cards.  This was not a part of the 10 minutes!!The front of the box is created the same way as the with the music wheel and the stamp set.  The main image in the middle of the box is from the new "Deck the Halls" Designer Paper...I cut out one image from it...isn't it pretty paper!

Okay, you are up!  Go on by Carole'Anne's Blog and link up your STUNNING creation with the sketch. I can't wait to see what you create!

Smiles,
Lesley :)

Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge & a Sneak Peak

The sketch at Stamping 411 was the perfect excuse to ink up a new stamp set "Bells & Boughs"and to cut into some new Christmas Designer Paper "Deck the Halls" from the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalogue.  The sketch stumped me at first but as I starting playing with the sketch, I realized that I could use two different patterned paper on this card.  I also am so used to creating a square or a circle for the centre...this sketch really forced me to try something new!

I usually sponge or make a frame for the Wide Oval punch that I used for the sentiment...but this time I liked that is was stark Very Vanilla paper and against the lace ribbon.  The poinsettia is from the new stamp "Bells & Boughs" set as is the sentiment.  I watercoloured the poinsettia with my Cherry Cobbler Marker and my Aqua Painter and then, after all that hard work, I covered it with a Vanilla coloured Poinsettia...to add some interest.  It is hard to tell in the photo, but I covered the centre of the flower with glitter.  'Tis the season for glitter!!

I echoed the sketch again on the inside of the card, then inked up one of my stamps from the "Many, Merry Messages" Set in Cherry Cobbler and stamped another image from the new set of holly in Crumb Cake over top...my inspiring friend LeAnne always does that on the inside of her cards, I have always wanted to try it!

Thanks for stopping by!
Smiles,
Lesley :)