Tuesday, June 28, 2011

T is for ???

Time again for another Terrifically Tantalizing Challenge at 
Top Tip Tuesday!
If you're sensing a theme, it's because today's challenge is...


For example:
Here is my DT card called
Tiptoe Through the Tulips
Tip:
Sometimes, picking the technique of the card first (Tent card) will inspire the theme later.
The sign post is hand-drawn as I don't have a stamp for this...yet
Tiptoe through the Tulips sentiment is from Rosie's Roadshow
The Bees are from Stampin' Up! Sweet Summer SS
The fence is Fiskars border punch
Circle border is from Spellbinder's Nestabilities Standard Circles Large (2)
Cream ribbon is from Offray


 The Teddy Bear, Hi Bella, image is a free digi from Lynne Stansbery
at


Now, back to Top Tip Tuesday's Tempting Sponsors...
Today's challenge is brought to you by

Simon Says Stamp
Who is offering a $20 gift voucher to spend in their store!

and also by

Pizzazz Aplenty
Which is run by Judy Bennett
 who is offering this stash of goodies!

and our NEW sponsor
Crimson Cloud
3 packs of die cuts to 1 lucky winner!


And as always, be sure to Take a Trip over to Top Tip Tuesday and check out the entire design Teams Tasty Treats of Inspiration...sure to Tempt the crafter in you! 


We look forward to seeing all your amazing projects and from the crew of Top Tip Tuesday,
Thank you for joining us and Good luck to you!

Here is my second card...
If Friends Were Flowers
Following along with the T theme, I chose to do a 


The End

I hope you've found this to be of some inspiration and I can't wait to see what you come up with!
Thank you for stopping by...
Happy Stamping!!
~Lisa


I'd also like to enter these cards into:

Tiptoe Through the Tulips
Challenge up your life - #46, Circles
Paper Sundaes - #75; (Purple flowers & Bee Wings) 2 entries
Send A Smile 4 Kids - Teddy Bears & Other Animals

If Friends Were Flowers
CES Challenges - #42, Anything but Square (rectangles)
Delicious Doodles - #31, Cute and Cuddly
Gingerloft Challenges - GL21; Add Those Beads
Paper Sundaes - #75, (Purple Flowers, Bee Wings, Gems, Paper Piercing) 2 entries
Quirky Crafts - #13; Lyn's Recipe Box-Quirky Craft-Theme Box; I have used: (Digi Bear, 5 flowers, Ribbon, 3 backing papers, Pink flowers, Blue brayed sky)

Friday, June 24, 2011

When Hallmark can't...

I was reading through the latest articles of a popular stamping magazine,
truly enjoying all the inspiration it offered,
when it struck me...
"These are amazing cards; however, what about cards for genuinely awkward moments?"

Yes, you're about to get a further glimpse into my brain.

Hallmark's motto is "When you care to send the very best..."
But, what happens when Hallmark doesn't have a card to fit the situation?

Take for example,
Scenario 1:  "Oh my gosh, you look adorable...When are you due?"
(She'd had the baby 2 weeks ago)
or
"I saw John out with Susie the other day...Why didn't you tell me you broke up?"
(She was not aware that they had )

Insert the perfect card here...

Foot In Mouth

Scenario 2:  One of a parent's worst nightmares 
and probably not the highlight of the child's life either...
But wouldn't it ease the tension a bit if you received this heartfelt handmade card
rather than a phone call?

OOPS!


Scenario 3:  Man to Man Manly cards are quite difficult to procure.
It seems as though the market is geared towards women and their need to express sympathy and sentiments to others.  
I believe there's an untapped avenue for cards that express a man's thoughts.
Take this for example...

Manly Man Sympathy


And lastly,
Scenario 4:  I had a t-shirt airbrushed to share this, 
but a homemade card would be perfect as well.

Unexpected Surprises



I do hope that the journey into my brain has not offended, 
but there is true sincerity behind this post. 
 Sometimes life can throw some curve balls and when Hallmark can't...
a handmade card can!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog...
Happy Stamping!!



Items used:
Foot In Mouth - Hand drawn
OOPS - Digi from Internet; Unknown origin
Manly Man Sympathy - Precious Memories Scrapbooking
Unexpected Surprises - Handmade

I'd also like to enter these cards into challenges:

Foot In Mouth
Dutch Dare Card Challenge - CAS
Moving Along With the Times - CAS

OOPS!
Pixie Dust Studio - Counting Along; Use A Number
The Three Muses - Whimsical, Quirky, Humorous

Manly Man Sympathy
Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog - Use a Digi
My Mum's Craft Shop - One of the Boys

Unexpected Surprise
C.R.A.F.T - 1 tag, 2 circles, 3 rectangles or squares
Charisma Cardz - White & One Other Color
Ruby's Rainbow - Flowers
Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes
Some Odd Girl - All White with 2 Pops of Color


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Criss Cross Applesauce


 Welcome back to another challenge!

WOW, there were SO many amazing entries last week for the 'Open Challenge'.
Be sure to pop over and see who won in all the different categories!

This week at Top Tip Tuesday,
the challenge is......
#39 - CROSS IT CHALLENGE
(Ribbons, bows, paper, twine, fingers, tape, eyes...you name it, just cross it!)
Woo Hoo!!!


Annette is hosting the tutorial this week and has done an amazing job showing how to make a 
Criss-Cross Card.

Here's a sneak peek...

I know you like this, but you'll love the whole enchilada she's prepared for you 
PLUS, some great tips as well.

Our generous Sponsors this week are:
They are offering our Featured Tipper an amazing book!

also

1 prize of 5 digi stamps of your choice!

Please be sure to check the rules and the date and time deadlines for your submissions to qualify
and as always, check out the inspiration cards from the other DT's...they are "cross my heart"...amazing!
Good luck to you from the DT crew at Top Tip Tuesday!

Here is my card 



Also, thank you very much for all the wonderful comments on my last post...I truly appreciate them.
Happy Stamping !
Lisa

I'd also like to enter this card into:

Die Cut Dreams Challenge Blog - #92; Red, White and Blue
Dream Valley Challenges - #9; Father's Day
Hooked On Craft - Anything Goes
Ooh La La Creations - #82; Father's Day/Special Man
Pile It On - # 25; Show Me Some Metal
Simon Says Stamp - Show Some Metal
Stamp -N-Doodle - Masculine and No Flowers
Stamps R Us - 1,2,3 Recipe
The Ribbon Reel - #4; Color Challenge






Friday, June 17, 2011

Oh, Dude!

It's hot, hot and hotter...
So, here's my tribute to summer.

Here's how I made this card...
I doodled.

Then I hand drew and stamped and punched



The only stamp I used was the palm tree called Deserted Island
The penguins are from the Stampin' Up! Owl Punch (body) - Bird punch (wings) and then altered
The life preservers, ball, sailboat, surfboard and banner were hand drawn

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and I hope that you all are staying cool!
Have a great weekend and Happy Stamping!!
Lisa

I would like to enter this card into:

Crafts & Me - Bling It On! (palm tree, H20 line, sailboat)
For Fun Challenge - Summer Fun
My Mum's Craft Shop - # 10 Seeing Spots (banner, sailboat, coconut bra)
Papercraft Star - # 50 STAR (sailboat, texture, animal, rope)
Scrapbook Sisters - Bunting and Banners
The Paper Variety -  #38 2 or more texts (smile - rub ons and OH, dude; studio g alphabets)
Scrapalicious USA - # 7 Smile Sentiment




Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Cabin in the woods


Well, it's Tuesday and you know what that means...
Challenge Time!!!

This week on Top Tip Tuesday, our challenge category is:
(insert drum roll here)
OPEN CHALLENGE!!
(and the crowd goes wild)

Our fantastically generous and lovely sponsors for this week are:

They are offering our lucky winner 4 stamps of their choice!
also
They are offering 1 prize of a $10 voucher!

Please be sure to check the rules and the date and time deadlines for your submissions to qualify
and as always, check out the inspiration cards from the other DT's...they are "oober" cool!
 Good luck to you from the DT crew at Top Tip Tuesday!

Here is my DT card...
TIP: Scoring, folding, and spacing the wood embossed strips of CS,makes for a nice log cabin illusion.







I added 3D dimension dots to several images for more depth


Log Cabin Tutorial:

What you'll need to make the wood grain
Cover CS with the lightest color of your choice;
I've used Close to Cocoa here
 Daub with a darker color here in random sections
 Cut strips of 1 1/2" 
 Flip strips over and score at either the same spot for an even look or random measurements for a varied size appearance

 Add adhesive to the folds

 Place the strip to your CS base and run a pencil underneath to get the rounded lumber look
 Finished project
Thanks for stopping by and happy stamping!!!


I would also like to enter this card into these challenges as well...

*Amber's Crafts & Stuff - Special Man
* Crafts and Me Challenges - #38 Stamp Something
* Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog - #42; Use More than One Image
* Creative Belli Blog -  Challenge #119; Branches
* Delicious Doodles - #29; Father's Day
* Digi's With Attitude! - #30; Father's Day Cards
*Fairy Knoll - #54: Father's Day
* Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - A card for a man or a boy
*The House that Stamps Built - Repeat Impressions DCC68 Designer's Choice Challenge; Father's Day Challenge w/Textures
*The Sisterhood of Crafters - Celebrating Dad/Man in your life
* The Stamp Man - #24; Boys and Men
*Wags 'n Whiskers - #56: One for the boys

Thank you for visiting my blog...
Happy Stamping 2 you!!


Sunday, June 12, 2011

Dab n' Drag Shabby CAS Cards


Three card techniques inspired by this tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers
called Direct to Paper as well as other color, image, and fold challenges.

Thinking Of You

Items Used:
Pear Pizzaz, Peach Parfait and Night of Navy Ink Pads
On the Grow Stamp Set
Thumped Image of butterfly in Bliss Stamp Set, but cut out with 
Beautiful Wings by Sizzix
3D dots for the vase

Challenges I would like to enter:
Creative Cowgirls challenge - Summertime Fun
Cupcake Inspirations - #115; Inspiration Image

Hi


Items Used:
Two Sizzix Embossing folders for the CB
Unknown origin for the inks
Sizzix "Hi" Sizzlit

Challenge I would like to enter:
The Crafty Pad - #125; Just Because You Can

Thank You Window



Items Used:
Assorted papers from my overflowing left-over's stash
Thumping method on the Bliss SS butterfly
Sentiment 'Thank you' from SU! Because I Care SS
Close to Cocoa Ink
Green Gems; origin unknown

Challenges I would like to enter:
Come and Get it Challenges - Color Challenge; Green, Brown and Blue
Creative Inspirations Paint - Fun Fold Cards

Have a great one! :)