Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Woven Crinoline Gift Basket

Have a birthday coming up soon and need a cute little holder for a gift? Well perfect, because I have just the idea for you!  Actually, the entire team at TOP TIP TUESDAY has gone crazy with projects for our current theme:
BIRTHDAY GIFTS
ie - gifts, Wrapping/box/bag,or use an image of a gift
Here is my woven crinoline basket all decorated up and ready for a birthday!
I began by using the detailed tutorial here that shows the technique in paper, but thought it would substitute nicely with embossed and inked material. 
The little birthday tag is the image Topsy Turvy Birthday Cake from Meljen's Designs.
I got so into making the basket that I forgot to take pictures along the way, but here is all I used to make the basket.  Need some crinoline? I ordered mine here.  You'll definitely need a hot glue gun to hold the weaves.
Once form was completed, I hot glued lace around the top edge.  Next, I placed a 3"x 12" piece of sturdy cardstock around the inside and secured over the lace.
Here are the supplies I used to decorate the bow.
Before adhering the bow, I glued another 3" x 12" dp atop the white cardstock for decoration and also placed a sturdy thin cardboard circle to the bottom of the basket.
A side view showing a little more of the weave.
 
Are you excited yet???  Well try to contain yourself, because there is heaps and loads of outstanding projects from special guests and our DT and an incredible tutorial from our very own wonderful Bettina on making a Picnic Box.
So put your bells and whistles on and head on over to the crazy-fun birthday bash!!
 
Hugs n' Happy Crafting,
Lisa xx
 
Theme:
Birthday Giftsie - gifts, Wrapping/box/bag,
or use an image of a gift
 
 Prize: $25 Gift Certificate
 
Prize: 4 images of choice


Monday, August 27, 2012

Embellishments at Squigglefly

School is back in session here in the Midwest and the leaves are starting to turn and I personally, am more than ready to welcome in Fall.  I'm not alone either, this weeks challenge at Squigglefly is asking for card submissions that use either school or Fall themed embellishments. 
 I was given this little image from Mike Eustis titled, Summer Friends, but felt it worked quite nicely with a paper pieced Autumn scenery. 
We'd love for you to join in the fun and show us your fall and/or school embellishments at
SCHOOL and/or FALL EMBELLISHMENTS

Happy Stamping...
Lisa xx



Sunday, August 26, 2012

Lookin' For Some Hot Stuff???

Ohhhh well hello there you lovely and handsome crafters!
I don't know about you, but nothing gets me more hot n' bothered than seeing my man cleaning!  Nothing says sexy like seeing him pushing around the vacuum cleaner, folding the 15,000th load of laundry or washing the dishes!!  ;)
Can I get an AMEN?
Well, today I get to showcase this beefcake scoring some points for his partner by lathering up a dish plate.  Isn't he just HOT!!
I've layered him on top of an apron card.  LOL...of course, when I showed it to my husband, he said,'That looks great honey..the coloring is wonderful, but I don't understand why he's in front of a pear.'  To which I said, "What???" 
It was probably the chemicals that messed with his vision.  After all, I did shove it in front of his face while he was scrubbing the oven. (wink)
Meet Dishcloth Dave from the extremely talented artist of
He is my DT card for this weeks sensational linky party at
 
Where this weeks sponsor is
Prize: Digi Paper collection of winner's choice

Would you like to see my...
PICK OF THE WEEK?
Here it is....
You won't believe the amount of work she put into this and the details that she describes on how this was made are wonderful.  You definitely have to take a look at her blog to see more pictures of what's peeking out of the top of these shorts.  TOO cute! Nicely done May and thank you for sharing this with us at Make It Monday.
 
Got something you would like to share with us too?  Well, come on over and link it up...we'd LOOOVE to see it!!

Thanks so much for your visit, hope you got a smile :)
Hugs n' Happy Stamping...
Lisa xx
hee hee...




Saturday, August 25, 2012

Stop!! Don't Throw That Away...

If crafting has taught me anything, it's shown me how to look at items I would normally discard or recycle with a whole new light. Which is why I am grateful for this week's challenge over at
Our Creative Corner, because now I get to downsize my "don't throw that away, I'll use it for something else" pile in my craft closet.  Thanks to Kim Price, the hilarious and resourceful crafter, for hosting this week's theme....
RECYCLE IT and use the color GREEN! 
This is my recessed window frame that has a stand on the back so it can sit anywhere on display.
 Going along with the theme of recycling, I decided to look at some old Paper Craft Magazines I also have piling up and drew my inspiration from this issue.  July/August 2011, page 24, titled Fanatical About Botanical. 
 The frame, backboard and stand are made using two of these recycled flatbread wrapping packages, a thin but sturdy cardboard.
 I've also used this old calendar for the bow, the sentiment and the two flowers in a vase.

 A few extra close-ups
The image I've colored in with copics is titled

These are glorious little vintage images that can be purchased at
 Here's a close-up of the image
 I really enjoyed using recycled products but I also needed to complete the task by using a pop of green.  As you can see here, the background image is mainly colored with variations of green, the leaves overhanging are inked with green and little speckles of white, the faux wood frame has smudges of green in the wood as well.  A little green vase sits on the ledge of the window alongside some green moss to give the image more depth and the frame more texture.

I certainly hope this challenge inspires you and and as always, the DT ladies are continually coming up with tons of crafty, creative and out of the box originality, so be sure to stop in and enjoy all of their creations at...
RECYCLE IT and use the color GREEN

Thank you so much for stopping in.
Hugs n' Happy Stamping...
Lisa xx
 
Challenge I would Love to Enter This Project Into:
Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent - Anything Goes & Frame It!


Thursday, August 23, 2012

Bovine Humor...

Welcome back to my little blog where you are unfortunately and unknowingly subjected to the odd inner workings of my mind...mwhahahahaha.  Shall we venture in????

Does this little heifer look familiar? She should...she's the gaw-jous Bovine Cutie from Karen's Doodles.  I had the very brief, but fantastic honor of DTing with that challenge blog, but they ended before I could ever get this little lady colored up.  However, today I thought she would be perfect to place in a little card as I am celebrating an old door closing and a new door opening.
This is my first DT card with the wonderful challenge blog Dutch Dare!


This week's challenge theme is....
BLING IS THE THING!

A little close-up to show that I've glitzed and glammed and stickled and bedazzled and glossed and embossed this lovely and very self-confident cow!

Hope you've enjoyed her and you understand the joke here.
There's a ridiculous older song out called Milkshakes and well...cow, udders, milk...you get the idea.

Join us over at DUTCH DARE for a bling-tastic time and be sure to check out the other DT's amazing creations.
Hugs n' Happy Stamping,
Lisa xx


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Vintage...It's Not Just For Yesteryears...


Well, GASP! It's official, I am old.  Okay, maybe not "prop me under a tree and leave me be" old, but old enough that I cringed every time I walked by a department store window yesterday and saw the display dummies dressed in my old clothes!!!  I could of sworn I burned those awful outfits, but someone somewhere has pulled them from the fiery pit and salvaged them for sale!  They also want to charge double appendages to buy them as well. I'm sorry, but they were hideous then and they are hideous now
It's a sad and mortifying day when one's daughter retorts to their chagrin on the current status of fashion with, "Mom, get a grip...vintage is back in!"  OMG.......
 
Mental diary entry:
"Dear self, on this date you have officially shed any trace of youthfulness.  You will now, and forever more, be classified as vintage.  Secondly, you have obviously procreated the devil's spawn and she is exactly in your likeness.  Lord help us all!"
 
Sooooo, after much debate and "in her defense" persuasion from my husband, I allowed her to return home with us from the mall.  I even astonished myself when I heard the words echo through my head, but resisted uttering them..."Look here Miss Thang, I brought you into this world and ...." Well, you know the rest. 
Honestly, I don't think we were even 1/4th the way home yet and already laughing about how much history repeats itself and I know for a fact I regretfully quoted the same thing to my dear mother. Through this little experience I realized how wonderful vintage items are and how much I treasure learning and seeing items from my families past; which is why our little shopping adventure inspired me to create a few projects that meld the past with the now...and here they are.

Kiddie Land DSL II
Ornament 
and...
Our Village DSL Card



Our Village DSL
If you're enticed by these images that have remained priceless and adorable throught history, you can find them here at

May you always be forever young in your heart....
Hugs n' Happy Stamping,
Lisa xx


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Sure-Fire Cure All???

Alright, now I'm totally confused! Last week I was ready to move to a nudist colony 'cause it was so dad-blasted hot and now this week I'm double layering my socks.  Don't get me wrong, I'm loooving this cooler weather, but unfortunately the sneezing, sniffling and runny noses have started too.
Which is why I've made this little get well card for this weeks linky party at
Sick Little Bear here is from our sponsor Meljen's Designs and he's been paper pieced with assorted scraps and mounted on a Kraft card while surrounded in elements useful for 'boo boo's.'  And I figure since laughter is supposedly the best medicine, why not tack on a comical remedy for best well wishes too. 
Does anyone recognize the DP? I've had that in my collection through four household moves and if I remember correctly, this paper came out in the early 2000's.  You'll also notice the trio of Q-tips, the ripple of self-adhesive gauze and the scalloped fringed lace of bandaids. 
I also decided that for some extra "umph" in motivation, I would go back in time and look at the older sketches from Mojo Monday. I had NO idea they went back that far.  Figured I'd start with this one from January 2010 and work my way up.

Well, that about does it for me, but before you go I can't wait to share 2 items of great news.
As you may already know, our wonderfully funny Karen has stepped down from MIM to give herself a little more free time (even though we all still stalk her blog daily and harass her just as much as if she was still here) but now we have new meat, I mean a new DT to pick on and have a great time with too... YEAH!!
Please drop by and give some love to Lisa S, (I know, what a COOL name!) so she feels all warm and welcome. We are so happy to have her on board with us.
Ain't she perty??? She's hysterically funny too!

ALSO, here's the second bit of great news, my....
PICK OF THE WEEK!
This is just a sneak peek of what she's done with a challenge of using orange, lime and citrus colors together...isn't this cute?!! 
For more wonderful pictures and to see the entire card, visit her blog at The Crystal Elephant
Come on out and share in the fun at
And you'll be in for the chance at a prize from
Prize: 4 Single digis!

I'm done now :)
Hugs n' Happy Stamping...
Lisa xx



Saturday, August 18, 2012

What To Do When Your Boss Isn't Looking...

So, what would you do when you're boss wasn't looking?
Options:
1.)  Pin cool stuff on Pinterest
2.)  Try to beat your last highest score on FB Farkle game
3.)  Make your next purchase list for stamping supplies
4.) Gather your office supplies and make a CARD!
Well, today is your lucky day! Whether you're reading this from the comfort of your home or sitting at your desk somewhere tucked away in an office, start looking around for fun and funky ideas to create a card out of office supplies you see laying around everyday!
Because....our ever inventive and colossally creative Kim Price is hosting this week at
 and that's exactly what she's challenged us ALL to do! 
PLUS, she loves the color RED, so there needs to be LOTS of that included too.
Here's my card using eight different supplies found in an office
Chevron packing tape, paper clips, metal clips, staples, graph paper, date & word stamper, shipping tag and rubber bands.

Wanna see more?  You're gonna flip! The incredibly talented and totally out of the box teamies have REALLY outdone themselves (yet again) and you're going to be in shock when you see what they've all created using Office Supplies.
So come on over and join in the fun at
Challenge: 
OFFICE SUPPLIES & LOTS OF RED!
Thank you so much for stopping in and/or playing hookie from your job for a bit to visit me!
Hugs n' Happy Stamping to everyone of you.
Lisa xx