Tippy Toes In The Tulips...

I don't know about you, but I just want to squeeze her!  No matter what kind of day you might be having, seeing an adorable little kid with hamhocks for legs, playing in a bed of flowers, just puts everything in perspective, doesn't it?  This precious little image is called Butterfly Baby Girl and I've chosen her to usher in this next theme at Karen's Doodles which is...

SOMETHING SPRING!

I assembled the card using the image as my inspiration.  Everything seems to pop right out in this picture.  The tulips budding open, the butterflies in movement, her little frills on her dress; so I wanted to make the card base in a similar style.  I've cut out two scalloped circles and mounted the left and right sides on velum in an attempt to bring this darling image out even further and leave the background details still visible.   A little bit o' stitching, a pearl here and there, a ribbon division and some large scallops down the right side and little Miss Thing, colored up in copics and it's all done. 

I hope you've enjoyed your visit and thank you for stopping in to take a peek.

Big Hugs and Happy Stamping...

Lisa xx

(I'm off to hunt for Morel mushrooms.  Wish me luck.  I'll probably find more ticks than mushrooms!)

Ciao for now...

Flowers For Hamlet...

The Pansy is the flower given by Ophelia to Hamlet in Shakespeare's play, Hamlet.  When she presented him with them she said, "There's Pansies; that's for thoughts."  The word pansy comes the French word pensée, meaning 'thought.'    Another little fun fact about the word pansy is that Margaret Mitchell, writer of, Gone With The Wind, had originally selected Pansy O'Hara as the name for the heroine of her novel.  It's a cute name, but I like Scarlet much better!

The little penny wrapper happened by accident.  I was actually looking for seed packets and came across this.  Having the origin of the word Pansy in my head, I thought it made sense to add "A penny for your thoughts?" as well.

Are you mowing your yards yet?  It's ridiculous here.  Soooo much rain and the grass and dandelions are taking over.  I can't stand them ugly things! Now, if I had a yard full of these gorgeous flowers, I'd let them take over.  However, since I have to live in reality, I'll just cover cards with them.  This beautiful image in the oval frame, is from Bugaboo in Skye's Pencil Pic Collection titled, Pansies. 

I hope you found this card inspirational and if it has fallen short of that, that's okay because the amazing ladies over at Make It Monday are sure to please your creative muse!  We'd love to have you join in our linky party this week. 

 Before you go, I'm so excited to show you my...

PICK OF THE WEEK!

Oh my goodness, where do I start with card?

I like the masculine and bold feel as well as the amazing metal embossing background, the wonderful image and that BAM bow! 

Thanks so much Shirley at

My Pinkie Is In Inkie in Boxertown

for sharing your amazing talent with all of us at Make It Monday.

 Make It Monday

 And our stupendous Sponsor who is so generously awarding the prize for this week's winner!

I am tickled pink that you've stopped by.  I love each and everyone of your visits!!  I'm out of town right now and probably on the road as this posts, so I apologize for not visiting or responding to your comments, but I will as soon as I return home. :)

Hugs and Happy Stamping...

Lisa xx

Livin' La Vida....

Helllllloooooo there! I am so happy that you stopped in today, well any day you visit is wonderful, but I'm just thrilled to 'see you' here again. 

I have a fairly simple card today, but I think it depicts exactly what it's supposed to for our challenge going on over at

The Squirrel & The Fox

where the theme for this challenge is....

THINGS WITH WINGS

I really admire the uniqueness of these peacock feathers, titled Beautiful Blocks-Life In Color at Bugaboo Digi Stamps.  Background papers were picked to draw out the hues of the feathers and the bird paper compliments the theme as well.  The feathers were colored with copics, a simple ribbon and bow were added with a centerpiece flower.  For additional texture, I punched out eight squares and foam layered with papers that accented the feathers as well.  The sentiment was recreated on the PC and placed to the side for fairly CAS look.

That's it for this card, but there's even more amazing inspiration over at

The Squirrel & The Fox by the other fantastic DT ladies.

 A sincere thank you as well to our generous sponsor who is providing the winner's prize!

I hope you have an amazing day!

Think things with wings....

hugs,

Lisa xx

Bountiful Bonnet o' Butterflies & Beauty....

If I were ever to pick a day to be speechless, today would be it! But alas, my vocal cords are still in tact and so I must prattle on about the 'splendiferous' news I received from another riveting challenge blog, Our Creative Corner.  Awhile back I was so honored to have won a challenge there and as a prize, I was gifted the opportunity to join in this weeks challenge as a GDT with the ever talented ladies who DT over there!  Here is my card I designed for their latest challenge...

In Your Easter Bonnet

 Here are the details for the challenge that is being hosted by Marcy Kaminski:

 Design a card/project that is inspired by a frilly Easter bonnet. 

Use elements that you would put onto your own bonnet, such as lace, flowers, pearls, etc.

 After much research and great guidance from another inspiring blog buddy, I decided to stick to my usual and go over the top.  After all, bonnets are a sign of flair and uniqueness and if I had the opportunity to sport one for the day, it would not go unnoticed! So sky high I went.

I decided it should be on an easel card base.  The dp that I used for the base is actually a sewing pattern for bonnets and can be found free here.  I've painted over it with antique green and blue acrylic paints.  The top section of the easel card is covered in, yet again, free paper from Far Far Hill that can be found here and comes in a down loadable pack that contains these...

I decided to create a brim off the top of the easel card, creating a bonnet affect and built out and up from there.  By placing this vintage woman's silhouette on the underside of the brim, making her the focal point, I then designed the bonnet's accoutrement from there. 

This is a compilation of glossy accented ribbon that has been twisted around a pencil, Tim Holtz tags and bird cage, a section of a view master reel, a vintage library card, silk flowers and butterflies.  I love vintage and reading and butterflies and birds and flowers, so it's a true representation of me all stuck on her head.  A closer look shows where I added mesh directly over the top of her forehead to symbolize a veil. 

The letters spelling 'Beauty' were a chipboard collection I've had for ages and thought it would complete the look. Plus, it had a blank space and my obsessive compulsive disorder wouldn't allow for that, so there you have it!  The little straw bonnet has been around for years and I never knew what to do with it, but it came in very useful as the 'kickstand' for this easel card.

I sure hope this was inspiring and you really must go see what the tremendously creative ladies at Our Creative Corner have done for this challenge as well.

I'm so glad you stopped in today for a visit. :)

Hope this finds you all happy and well and ready to craft for their challenge of

In Your Easter Bonnet

Hugs and Happy Stamping...

Lisa xx

You're A Banner Friend

Friend

Hello you wonderful people!

I have some sad and disturbing news to share with you....

I received an email notice from Blogger three days ago notifying me that my account with them was to be permanently deleted due to my "offensive" posts.  Apparently, someone in blogland doesn't care for my humor.  Regardless of the fact that they visit of their own free will, it is best for the reputation of blogger that I be banned permanently.  I was informed that my IP address would be tracked and any further attempts to create a new account would be thwarted as well.  After contacting "those in the know" I begged and pleaded that I at least be allowed to post a final farewell and allow my friends, family and followers the courtesy of knowing that I wasn't leaving of my own willingness.  I was granted permission to do so and I have until the end of the week to correspond and then I will no longer be visible in blogland.

So, with that being said, I would just like to say from the bottom of my heart.... 

I ain't going nowhere!

Hee hee...

I'm sorry, but I just couldn't resist the day of pranks.  I apologize if you were actually excited about my departing. 

I Heart You All!!!
Thank you Pamela for the wonderful April Fool's sign as well.  This image can be found here.

Since you're going to have put up with me (smiles!) then I'll get back to the serious business at hand and that is the ever FaNtAsTiC linky party that is going on over at

Make It Monday!

Our Sponsor for this week is the amazing

Cupcake Cards & Crafts

that will be providing the winner's prize!

If you're still with me on this post, I'll just briefly recap the highlights of my DT card for this week.  I've incorporated a couple techniques that I have seen from a few crafters out in blogland.  The first is the inked Houndstooth embossing folder, which comes from Sue aka Onion at Scrumplescrunch and the next is the metal bird who's concept came from Mitra over at Mitralee.  Wonderful crafters and always thinking out of the box!  The crocheted, and I use that term lightly, banner is my own creation design.  What the mind perceives and the body produces....are not always on the same page.  BUT, I had fun with the 15 attempts.  The one seen here is the last straw.  I'll need to be contacting my grandmother for pointers on this one.  The rest is self-explanitory so I'll move on to the best part of my post, my....

PICK OF THE WEEK!

This fantastic card is made by Lisa S at Adventures In Paperland...if you want to see some incredible talent, check out her wonderful blog. This is her first circle card and what a fabulous one it is and look at the adorable eggs and bow and 3D chickadee.  So cute!

Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us at Make It Monday, Lisa :)

I thank you SOOOOOO very much for stopping and I congratulate you if you've actually read to the very last.  I hope this card has inspired you to join us for the linky party fun at

Make It Monday.

I'm off to devise more pranks to play on the family, so I bid you a fond adieu and hope that you have a splendid and fun filled day!

Hugs and Happy Stamping...

Lisa xx

Nicecrane Vintage Images...

I have a few more vintage items to share with you.  These are all found at Nicecrane Designs.

They were all colored with copics.

Funny Easter DSL II

Funny Easter DSL

All located here at

 Nicecrane Designs

Thank you so much for stopping in...

Have a great weekend!

Elmer Fudd Would Be Proud...

Be vewy, vewy, qwiet...I'm hunting for a wabbit!

Yes, Elmer would be proud of the way I've captured these waskily wabbits in a vintage Easter ornament.

I selected a die cut to encase the image and then glazed over them UTEE.  Once dry, I ran the edges through Versamark and then gold powder embossed them.  A larger identical die cut was used for the backing and each was covered with gesso and then acrylic tan and blue paint.  The image was mounted on large foam squares, a ribbon glued for hanging them and then a trio of roses and leaves for embellishment and finished off with gold stickle dots on the edges.

 I think they'll look very cute on our seasonal tree!

 Ooops....got a blob of gunk there that wouldn't melt.  Still new to the UTEE thing...

 Here's all the little Easter bunnies together

If you found interest in these images, you can find them here...

 Vintage Easter Bunnies

 Nicecrane Designs

Thanks so much for dropping in and I hope you have a FANTASTIC weekend!

Hugs to all,

Lisa xx

Ohhh, and a big hello to my newest follower as well...thank you so much. :)

From Sniffles To Stickles....

Altered Tissue Box

You all have really made my days with your wonderful comments and I thank you so much and welcome to my latest followers as well.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!!  I'm still on a mission to finish my projects for April and I think I will be done tomorrow with them all...WOO HOO! With that said, I'll be able to just sit back and relax and visit you all and thoroughly enjoy all of your wonderful crafting! You've been warned, I will be stalking and commenting VERY soon! :) I can hardly wait.  Anyway, here's another ditty I've been up to...

If you love to recycle and create altered art, we have the perfect challenge happening over at

Craft Us Crazy

Where our theme for two weeks is...

ALTERED ITEM AND/OR ANYTHING BUT A CARD

Here is my original tissue box that I started with

 I covered the box with my designer paper, slapped some acrylic blue and white paint over the top and allowed it to dry.  With a 3"x 3" white piece of cardstock, I punched a 1" hole and used this for the template to place the Stickles.  After cutting out the circles with an X-ACTO knife, I painted the inside with matching acrylics as well.

With the addition of a gorgeous butterfly and a few roses and the wooden letters that spell CREATE and one last handmade blue flower, the project was done!

I really love this little altered piece because now I can actually see the colors of the stickles, instead of being in a bucket and constantly pulling them out to find the right color.  SO happy with this stickles organizer.

We would LOVE to have you join us for our challenge at

Craft Us Crazy and you will truly enjoy the other DT's amazing altered items.

Our Sponsor for this challenge is none other than Meljen's Designs

Who will be providing the winner with a wonderful prize!

Tissue Box Humor...

I'm so happy you stopped by and I hope you found this project to be inspiring and hopefully useful too! 

Hugs and Happy Creating...

Lisa xx

A Bad Egg?...

 Here we are again with the warm and cuddly Stella spreading her good cheer to all.  Isn't she just the cutest cantankerous lady?  Today she is sporting her fabulous fuzzy bunny costume.  I've placed her inside a cracked egg, thought it appropriate. If you're interested in checking out this image, you can find her here.

Little Easter Cartoon...

LOVE the eyeballs on that poor rabbit.

I'm sure you can see the theme unfolding here for our fabulous challenge over at

 Top Tip Tuesday

EASTER or ANIMALS

And you won't want to miss our very own lovely and talented Heike and her amazingly wonderful tutorial on making an Easter Egg Basket!

We'd love to see your ideas for Easter and or Animals on this one so come on over and say hello and check out the great projects designed by the amazing DT at Top Tip Tuesday!

Hugs n' Hoppy Stamping...

Lisa xx

Here are the sponsors that will will be providing the prizes for this challenge.

 Bugaboo - 7 Digi Images

 Sew Sweet -  £10.00 voucher

 Fred She Said - $20.00 Voucher