It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To!

 Today is my birthday. Woo. Hoo. Should be a day to celebrate. I will to a certain extent, but first I need to get some sad news out first. One of my favorite stamp companies, Lizzie Anne Designs, is closing their metaphoric "doors". Sigh. I love this company. I love the two great owners who started this company a few years ago, and have continually produced fun, quirky, elegant, and artsy images and sentiments in wonderful mixes. The images used in this post are part of their last hurrah, "Summertime Celebration", their final mix to be shipped July 1st. Meanwhile, starting today, they'll be selling their inventory at fantastic sale prices, starting at 40% off. This is your fabulous opportunity to grab all the Lizzie Anne goodness you can...speaking of grab, there are even grab bags for $5 each, filled with a mix of old and new stamps! Put on your cyber-sneakers and run over to the Lizzie Anne Designs' website and stock up now. If you need more inspiration for the images you already have, or those you KNOW you are going to want, then check out the Lizzie Anne Designs blog, the Sketchbook on the website, the rest of our fabulous yet teary-eyed design team members' blogs, and the LAD Facebook page. Plus, you will continue to see our fun samples over the next month, and the discounts will continue until the "Fiesta" is over. Sigh. Now I need cake. And ice-cream.

Lizzie Anne Designs "Summertime Celebration"
Stampendouswww.stampendous.com Class A' Peel "Dot Sparklers"
Tuxedo Black Memento ink
Bazzill cardstock
Gibson patterned paper
double-sided foam tape

Lizzie Anne Designs June Singles Release!

So excited to reveal the latest new releases of Lizzie Anne Designs singles, "Hula Girl" and "Surfer Dude". Aren't they just soooooo cute? Living in California, we are very proud of our surf culture, and yes, I was a surfer once upon a time, when I was muuuuuch younger! LOL. Like so many others, my hubby and I love Hawaii, and to do a trip to Hawaii right, you have to take a hula lesson. Yep. I've done that, too. There's my explanation for why I'm so in love with these new images. For the Hula Girl, I created a fun party drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic...it's up to you!), with a shrink plastic stem marker and a straw or swizzle stick accent. I used both vellum and acetate to create the glass and ice cubes, and fun paper for the drink. I added a tag sentiment from the "Everyday Sayings" Little Bits set. Wouldn't this make a fun party invite? Plus, it would be fun to create all the party accessories to match!

 My second card features the "Surfer Dude". I created a surfboard-shaped card for this with some fun paper from American Crafts. I stamped a couple images from "Wonderful World" and the sentiment from "Tweens and Teens" sets. The Surfer Dude was stamped on a white circle, colored and shaded with Copic Sketch Markers. I added a few dots to represent sand and water, and paper-pieced the surfboard. Personally, I can hardly wait to see what the rest of our amazing team comes up with on this release, and you'll want to check them out for yourself before dashing over to the Lizzie Anne Designs website to buy your own!

Lizzie Anne Designs:
Hula Girl Single
Surfer Dude Single
Wonderful World Sixlets set
Everyday Sayings Little Bits set
Tweens and Teens Little Bits set

Plus:
American Crafts, Ann Griffin patterned papers
Bazzill and Mohawk cardstock
Tuxedo Black Memento ink
Copic Sketch Markers
Thermo Acetate
Vellum
shrink plastic
Nestabilities squares and ovals
jumpring, tinsel twine
sparkle fibers
double-sided foam adhesive

MIxin' It Up with Lizzie Anne Designs Sketch #165!

Quickie post today featuring my version of Lizzie's sketch for Lizzie Anne Designs this week. I've been dying to break out this "In the Kitchen" set, so here was my opportunity! I love the mixer...just like my Kitchen Aid that my hubby bought for me over twenty years ago and is still going strong, mixing up cookies, and cakes, and muffins, and bread. I have the cutest pictures of my kids helping mom mix batches of goodies and licking the beater or the spoon. Of course, my mixer is the traditional white version rather than a wild red patterned one with a yellow bowl. Artistic license...and too much cute paper from October Afternoon and American Crafts to play with! I added little buttons on the top of my muffins and used the fun "Love Muffin" saying to finish it off. I can hardly wait to play with this set again! Now is your opportunity to play along with this week's challenge and post your creation to the Lizzie Anne Designs' Facebook page HERE.

Hey! It's May! And Lizzie Anne Designs Singles Day!

 Wow. May 1st. How did that get here already? It really is not fair that the older you get, the faster time seems to fly by. But, along with growing older also comes the joy of having good, true, friends. The kind that stand by you through thick and thin (and I'm not just referring to weight fluctuations!), the kind that just...get you. Know what I mean? Lizzie Anne Designs has two new Singles releases today, which both refer to the comfort of a good friend. "Favorite Jeans" and "A Good Friend" are perfect together. The jeans image is really fun to play with. For this card, I
used the Copic "denim technique". Super easy. Just color the image with the various shades of blue you select to create the color and shading of jeans. Let dry for a few minutes. Place some Copic Blender solution in a spray bottle and spritz on a scrap of denim fabric. Press this on the colored image for a few seconds. When dry, the solution will have "nudged" the color to create the look of the denim texture. This same process can be used with various textured fabrics...terrycloth, burlap, tulle, etc. The patches on the jeans were paper-pieced with the plaid Pinecone Press paper which was distressed around the edges. To create the look of jeans cuffed at the bottom, I stamped the bottom of the image on a scrap, colored, cut, and adhered to the hem of the jeans upside-down. The extra "patches" on the card were created from stamping the herringbone texture from the "Timeless Textures" set. I snipped around the edges and distressed them slightly as well. As I was playing with "Favorite Jeans", I started to think of all the fun ways to create with this image...so be sure to check back for more ideas. Meanwhile, check out what the rest of the Lizzie Anne Designs' team has come up with using these new releases. Pick up your own set, and create something fabulous for your closest pals as well.

Plus:
Tsukineko Paris Dusk Memento ink
Copic Sketch Markers: B21, B24, B37, B45
Copic Blender Solution
Pinecone Press "Scout"
kraft cardstock
Corrugator, Nestabilities Circle
twine, rivets, clothespin, denim scrap
sanding block

Lizzie Anne Designs Sketch #161

 Amazingly enough, I actually had some time to play along with the Lizzie Anne Designs sketch challenge for this week. Tricia (Lizzie) suggested that we die cut an overpanel to expose a peek of print behind. My overpanel was Core'dinations' cardstock run through the Big Shot with an embossing folder and sanded to expose the swirls. I chose a simple rectangle for the die cut shape. My print was created from stamping the argyle and dragonfly from the "It's Good to Be Queen" Mix set in various shades of chalk inks, with the addition of several dragonflies embossed in white. The sentiment and frame are from the same great set. A little bling was added to the additional dragonfly. This challenge can be as simple or as intricate as you desire. Come play along with us this week and post your own creation to the Lizzie Anne Designs Facebook page HERE.

Simply in Stitches

Looks complicated, but it's not. The Beauty Within image from Lizzie Anne Designs "Follow Your Dreams", was simply stamped and loosely colored with chalks. Four panels of patterned paper were the background for this great image, and the stitching around the outside mimics the sketchy outline of the image and frames it for more impact. I recently saw this great tutorial on creating flowers from patterned paper using a Nestabilities circle or scalloped circle die. So easy and so fun! The centers have pearl stickers. A fab sentiment from the "Follow Your Dreams" set was stamped on the side. Really fun, huh? Be sure to visit the Lizzie Anne Designs blog, Sketchbook, Team blogs, and Facebook page for more inspiration. Hope you have a very creative week!

Lizzie Anne Designs "Follow Your Dreams" Mix Set
Rich Cocoa Memento ink
Decorator Chalks
MME patterned papers
kraft  and off white cardstock
Nestabilities Scalloped circles dies
pearl stickers
sewing machine

Bonjour to Friday!

 A quickie post for Friday. So busy right now with various creative deadlines, so am posting previous creations. This card features Lizzie Anne Designs "Bonjour" set. I love the old world feel of these images, so I added to the image with shades of distressing inks that mimic age and patina. I originally created this for a sketch challenge for a magazine submission call. I thought it was an interesting sketch, and worked well for highlighting the medallion images in this set. Hope you have a creative Friday and a wonderful weekend.

Lizzie Anne Designs "Bonjour" set
Rich Cocoa Memento ink
Teal Memories Mists
WRMK "Dippity Dots" paper
tan cardstock
Queen & Co. Brads
twine

Keeping It Simple

 This is me taking a stab at keeping it simple. Just a base of kraft cardstock, a strip of print, some Copic coloring, a little stitching...okay, can't quite call it CAS, but for me this was leaving a lot of "white space". Loving this new image from Lizzie Anne Designs new Spring Mix, "Follow Your Dreams". As usual, this was only one of many great images from this mix, which also includes some great stamps for Mother's Day as well. You definitely need to sign up to receive the Mix sets seasonally...they are a wonderful deal with oodles of ideas that will jump out at you. Plus, you can always receive more inspiration from the Lizzie Anne Designs blog, Sketchbook, and Facebook page. Happy stamping!

Lizzie Anne Designs New Single Release!

 The first of the month means that it's Simply Singles new releases from Lizzie Anne Designs. There were two images as usual, "Mother Defined", and the one that I chose to feature today, "So Very Sorry". Something about this sentiment just spoke to me so I went with it. Been in a purples and greens mood lately, so I used various shades of both in my card. I also broke out the tulips from the "It's Good to be Queen" mix set once again, and softly stamped on the panel behind the tulips and on the sentiment label lovely swirls from the "Fanciful Flourishes" set. The Nestabilities dies helped to frame the tulips, as well as emphasize the beauty of the sentiment. For added fluff, a soft ribbon bow and tulle were added. For bling, a couple rhinestone stickers were added and tiny dots of sparkly ink were added to the edges of the tulips. No one wants to think they will make a huge mistake that they will need to apologize for, but if it's necessary...do it beautifully! Please visit the team's blogs, as well as the Lizzie Anne Designs website and blog for inspiration and the opportunity to purchase perfect images and sentiments for any occasion.

Lizzie Anne Designs:
"So Very Sorry" Simply Single
"It's Good to be Queen" Mix Set
"Fanciful Flourishes" Little Bits

Memento inks: Grape Jelly, Lulu Lavender, Bamboo Leaves, and New Sprout
Sakura Gelly Roll Star Pen
Bazzill and Coredinations Cardstock
vellum
Creative Impressions ribbon
rhinestone stickers
Nestabilities Jumbo Scalloped Ovals and Labels Four

Play Date Cafe and Lizzie Anne Designs! Yippee!

 Oh, boy, it's a play date! Even better...it's a play date with COLOR! The inspiration for color play is this gorgeous picture to the left...full of bright light, wonderful blues and purples, and a hint of green. My version features images from Lizzie Anne Designs, specifically the "It's Good to Be Queen" mix, and "Everyday Sayings" (which just happens to be on sale!). Since I didn't happen to have any patterned paper with the blue and purple colors together (I know, how can that be considering I must have half a ton of paper!), but I did happen to have  this paper with these pretty blue flowers over it. I added to the pattern with the Paisley image and the Dots image. This panel of paper was placed over an embossed paisley cardstock panel of dreamy blue, with bits of violet borders added. The Tulips image was colored on the rubber with Copics, spritzed with Blender fluid and stamped. A touch of additional shading was added with Copics, a white pen, and a bit of glitter. Layers of Nestie die cuts, popped up, and a little bling added finish this off. Have fun hopping around to the rest of the Play Date Cafe group, which this week includes all of our wonderful Lizzie Anne Designs team as listed at right. While you are at the Lizzie Anne site, be sure to check out all the fabulous images on sale through Sunday in the Overstock section. 40% off! Woo hoo! Since this is a Play Date, be sure to play along!

Lizzie Anne Designs "It's Good to Be Queen" and "Everyday Sayings"
Memento inks: Summer Sky, New Sprout, Grape Jelly, Lulu Lavender
Copic Sketch Markers: G07, G21, G27, FYG2, BV00, V09, V15, Blender fluid
Glue Pen, White gel pen
Stampendous Multi Ultra Fine Crystal Glitter
Nestabilities Labels 4
Impressabilities Paisley
MME Tres Belle paper
light blue, violet, off white cardstock
pearl and rhinestone stickers
double-sided foam adhesive

Lizzie Anne Designs Spring Mix Release: It's MOOVELOUS!

I am having sooo much fun creating with Lizzie Anne Designs Spring Mix, just being released today! My first thing to grab was this darling moo-cow with the flower spots, and the perfectly "moovelous" punny sentiment to go with. Recently at a craft show, I purchase several of these clear "coin tubes" that seem to be such a hot item right now. At my local market I found these "Cow Tales" nostalgic candies that fit in the tube perfectly. I created a couple of boxes with holes through the center to hold the tube treat with the help of my new Scor-Pal and my Nesties. I added a stamped lace border to the bottom and the fun sentiment. The moo-cow was layered to a scalloped circle and attached to the tube with a jute tie. The card was created using the remnants of circles die cut from the tube treat project. I stitched them down the side, added another stamped lace border to the card as well, and popped up my moo-cow. I love the way this project turned out. It will be the perfect birthday gift for a good friend of mine who shall remain nameless, but who happens to love orange and green and all things punny! I promise I will be posting lots of goodness with these new images, so be sure to revisit soon. Meanwhile, check out what the rest of the team has been playing with, then jump to the Lizzie Anne Designs site to purchase your own and play along. Have a "moovelous" day!

Lizzie Anne Designs Spring Mix, "Follow Your Dreams" and lace border from "Timeless Textures"

Rich Cocoa Memento ink
October Afternoon and KI Memories print
Bazzill Lizard, Festive, and Java
Nestabilities Circles and Scalloped Circles
sewing machine
double-sided foam adhesive
jute twine

"Latte" Love Gift Card Pocket

A quickie post today. I made this card for a recent magazine submission. The sketch for this card included a pocket for a gift card. Since I happened to have a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf gift card (yum!), I went with the coffee theme. The image is from Lizzie Anne Designs. I paper-pieced the image with this Basic Grey paper and added a strip of 7Gypsies paper across the middle, stitched on the ends. The pocket was stitched as well. I loved the color combo on this, and the concept of a gift card on the front of the card. Leaves lots of room on the inside for a mushy note! Happy stamping!

Lizzie Anne Designs "Latte" Single
Versamark ink, Rich Cocoa Memento ink
Stampendous White Embossing Powder
7 Gypsies "Venice" paper
Basic Grey "Hang Ten: Wipeout" paper
Bazzill Cinnamon Stick cardstock
tan cardstock
Nestabilities Circle Die
sewing machine