PCS Garden Lantern hop + a preview!

Look at this cute little Garden Lantern -- these are so cute with a battery powered tea light inside!  This darling template is included with the April issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler, Winged Things.  Chances are, if you are here looking at my Garden Lantern, you came here from Riley Fitzgerald's blog. If not, that's okay -- this is a good place to start, too!  To see more of these gorgeous little Lanterns, please go to Melanie Schulenberg's  blog to see her lovely creation.

      

As a little enticement, I've post a preview of my project that I did for the April issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler.  If you are interested in subscribing to the Sampler for a full year, or just the April "Winged Things" issue, just go to the Sampler homepage and check it out!  Don't forget to use the promotional code PCSLH.

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge 142

I layered Bravo Burgundy, Rose Red, Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay and sheets from the Thoroughly Modern ds. The Soft Suede layer was color embossed with Soft Suede ink in the Finial Press Textured Impressions folder. The flower was made from about a zillion layers of vellum sponged with Rose Red ink.

Stamps: Feathered Hope

Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Rose Red, White, Bermuda Bay, Thoroughly Modern ds

Ink: Black, Bermuda Bay, Night Navy, Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Rose Red, Soft Suede

Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions folder, Ticket-Corner punch, vintage brads, Burgundy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, vellum, Boho Blossoms punch, aquapainter, Dimensionals, linen thread

Welcome to the PCS Garden Birdhouse Hop!

The Paper Crafters Sampler design team has another sweet blog hop for you using the large garden  birdhouse template offered exclusively in the March issue, "Le Jardin", The Garden.

This template, along with the Adoring Apron template can be found in the March issue of PCS.  To find more information on the Paper Crafters Sampler, go here and don't forget to use my promotional code:  PCSLH.

If you've already started on the tour you're probably just come from Cherie Franklin's blog,  if not that's OK, this is a good place to start, too!

For the next stop on our hop, please  go to Melanie Schulenberg's  fabulous blog!

It;s official, I'm a crafting over-achiever...

I think that this is taking crafting a little too far!  I came home from the horse show last Sunday with an extra show shirt.  After multiple emails back and forth, I finally figured out to whom the shirt belonged.  So, instead of sticking the clean shirt in a bag, I hung it on a hanger.  Then, figuring that it would get all dirty at the barn, I put a cleaner's bag over it.  THEN, thinking that it'd sit there forever until Rachel figured out that it was hers, I'd put a name tag on it.

As you can plainly see, one thing led to another, then another.....

Hello, my name is Lisa and I'm a Craftaholic!

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge 141

I did this card for this weeks' Stamping 411 Saturday sketch challenge. I really liked the sketch, but found that the rounded corners gave me a deco feel that I couldn't seem to do justice to. Out of respect for that deco feel, I did the card in a monocromatic palette of Pretty in Pink and Black.

The central image was stamped in Versamark, then embossed with black detail ep. The birds' eye and the flower centers are pink rhinestone brads.

Stamps: Wings of Friendship, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Black, Pretty in Pink, White

Ink: Versamark, Black

Accessories: Rhinestone brads, Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots textured impressions folder, Pretty in Pink satin ribbon, 1/4" Black grosgrain ribbon, Scallop border punch, dimensionals, black detail ep, corner rounder punch

Congratulations to Ellie!

Congratulations to Ellie and Beach Music on their first show together as a team!  We were in Lexington, Virginia for four days and, in that time, they won four classes, the SWVJHA Hunt Medal, one Championship and assorted lower ribbons.

Gnome Walk, day four!

Well, now you been through four days of Gnomishness - has it made you happy?  It certainly was fun for me!  This little dude is from another sadly retired set, No Place Like Gnome.

I weep for the lack of Gnomes in the current catty!

Stamps: No Place Like Gnome

Paper:  Ruby Red, Always Artichoke, Vanilla, some now unknown piece of ds.

ink:  Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Blush Blossom, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Ribbon Originals, pieces from Antique Copper HPH, Dimensionals, sponges, Aquapainter

Knobbly Gnome Walk -- day three!

Isn't this the cutest little shy Gnome?  I love the layers on this card -- I've always been a firm believer in using as many background stamps as possible!  

If you haven't tried stamping out your backgrounds in Craft inks, you ought to try it.  The colors really pop  and the saturation is fabulous.  The card base and the first layer are pretty easy to figure out:  single background stamps.  

The center layer is more involved -- French Script was stamped in Always Artichoke craft ink and Cheesecloth was overstamped in White craft.  The spatter pattern from Itty Bitty Backgrounds was stamped in both White craft and Always Artichoke and Close to Cocoa classic inks.  The shadow behind the shy Gnome was done with a sponge in Close to Cocoa.

Stamps:  Knobbly Gnomes, Houndstooth, Canvas, French Script, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Cheesecloth

Paper:  Kraft, Rose Red, Vanilla

Inks:  Craft ink:  Always Artichoke, White.  Classic inks:  Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa

Accessories:  Sponges, Burgundy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals, Aquapainter

The First Annual Gnome Walk, day two!!

Well, if you're back for more Gnomes on my little Gnome Walk, then I'll take it to mean that you are a SERIOUS Gnome Person!  I love this little guy, using his Black-Eyed Susan as a sunshade.

Stamps:  Knobbly Gnome

Paper:  Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom, Holiday Treasures ds, White

Ink:  Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Black

Accessories:  Aquapainter, half pearl from Pretties Kit, 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon, Scallop border punch,  1/16" circle punch, sponges, Boho Blossoms punch, Accents & Elements

Le Jardin is the theme for the March issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler!

Please join us this month at the Paper Crafters Sampler for some fabulous spring ideas in our Le Jardin issue!  As well as design ideas for cards, you'll also receive our exclusive Adorning Aprons template.

I'm giving you a couple of sneak peeks of my creations for Le Jardin -- to see the full project, plus many, many more lovely creations -- go to the Paper Crafters Sampler!

The first annual Knobbly Gnome Walk!!

I've had so much fun Knobbly Gnomes over the years and I thought that I'd post a couple of my favorite Gnomes for others to enjoy -- the First Annual Gnome Walk!  I'm going to post one new Gnome each day, so be sure to come back to visit if you want to see some of my garden friends.


This card was a direct case from the catty, the year that Knobbly Gnomes was introduced.


Stamps:  Knobbly Gnome, Houndstooth, Expressive Flexible Phrases


Paper:  Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Rose Red, Confetti Cream


Inks:  Craft:  Bravo Burgundy.  Classic:  Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Black


Accessories:  eyelets, Dimensionals, Aquapainter

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge 140

I love the Saturday Sketch challenge from Stamping 411 this week -- so many possibilities!!

I layered Baja Breeze, Vanilla, Chocolate Chip and 2 sheets from the Afternoon Tea ds. The ds layers were peeled like old wallpaper and the flower was made from vellum, which was sponged with Tangerine Tango.


Stamps: Feathered Hope, Woodgrain


Paper: Baja Breeze, Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Afternoon Tea ds, vellum


Ink: Black, Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango


Accessories: Antique Copper HPH, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, sponges, Aquapainter, Boho Blossoms punch

The new Paper Crafters Sampler WOW project for March!!

Who doesn't love a pretty apron to brighten up the kitchen while preparing your meal?  I don't know about you, but I have a wide assortment of pretty aprons that I keep in the pantry to reflect my moods -- along with the matching dishtowels, naturally!  Many of them I bought on vacation, so that they represent more than just cuteness to me.  So, when it came time to work on this months' Paper Crafters Sampler, I thought of one of my favorite aprons, the one that I bought in Quebec.

Using the exclusive Adorning Aprons template from the March Paper Crafters Sampler, it was so easy to be creative with these darling aprons!  In keeping with the French country look, I worked within a palette of Summer Sun, Ruby Red, Not Quite Navy and Old Olive. 

Our white rooster is wearing a darling ensemble featuring stamps from the sadly retired Rustic Rooster set.  The tie is made from Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon and the frill was made from three layers of trim made with the original scallop border punch.  The apron was sewn on the sewing machine with red thread.  You will note the trim around the pocket, especially!

This fine young hen is wearing a creation made from Confetti Cream card stock.  It is hand-printed with the line of chicks from Country Morning and the pockets are trimmed with buttons from Button Boquet.  The tie of the apron is made from Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon and the trim is made from alternating bands of Not Quite Navy and Summer Sun.  This trim was cut using the Eyelet border punch.

For more information on these fabulous little aprons, as well as the exclusive template, please go to the Paper Crafters Sampler!  Please use the code PCSLH when ordering.

This month we have something extra for viewers.  Each design team member will have a drawing for a FREE copy of the March Paper Crafters Sampler.  Just leave your comments on our Adorning Aprons by March 3rd.   The winners will be posted on March 4th.  

Now, please put your hands together for the next stop on the Paper Crafters Sampler Spring spring apron blog Hop, Tiffany Bauer's fabulous blog,  My Crafty World!

The Adorning Aprons blog hop!!