Springtime smiles

Good morning again, crafting friends... I saw this layout on this posting on Kelly Lunceford's blog that caught my eye. Her blog and her designs are simply beautiful! So this card's layout is hers.

I am using a vintage style stamp set called Easter Blossoms. Love the pretty and soft colors: Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait... mmm....

And here is another one that is made with the left over scrap:

This time I wrapped a matching Blushing Bride ribbon around it and rearranged the layout a bit. I think I like them both :)

Thank you crafting friends for taking a peek today.

Happy creating,

Liza

God's gift

Good morning, crafting friends... are you enjoying the holidays and quiet of the Holidays break? We take a lot of rest and take the kids to go see movies :) We love our movie adventures here :)

This card above has a very nice sentiment (from God's Blessings stamp set), I like how it turned out. It was one of those impromptu cards that just came together. My friend Ami needed a birthday card for her husband. She came over for a play date last week so we ended up making a few more stuff.

The patterned paper is a new one that will be in the Occasions Mini Catalog called Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper. All vintage natural style. I used a card base that I don't normally go for: Not Quite Navy but I am glad when I try something new like that.

The scroll in the background is from Vintage Vogue stamp set and the key image is from Artistic Etchings stamp set. I added a Cherry Cobbler button to finish off.

The square scallop die is called Scallop Squares Duo Bigz Die. I find that large 3x3" scallop square useful for card focal points so I die cut several at a time and let them sit on my desk. I usually use Crumb Cake card stock.

This next card is also using Not Quite Navy card stock as a card base. I am actually test driving a new die that will be available in the Occasions Mini catalog called Fun Flowers Bigz L die. There are 3 sizes of fun shaped flowers and 2 small flower centers. I added texture to the flowers first by dry embossing one and stamping polka dots on one, then layered them all together as above.

Patterned paper is another new one that is called Springtime Vintage DSP. Sentiment is from the hostess level 1 stamp set called "Because I care" (ha ha...)

It's been fun experimenting with these new goodies :)

All right, crafting friends, enjoy the rest of your week.

Hugs,

Liza

Love You

Good morning, crafting friends... Introducing a new stamp set called Valentine Defined today. It feels refreshing to get into pinks and hearts :)

A whimsical stamp set. It has a long stamp of hearts and strings that I have stamped repeatedly on a piece of Very Vanilla card stock to make it the background of the card. A piece of Pear Pizzazz card stock with this image of "heart leaves" and finally a tree image as a focal point, colored with markers: Melon Mambo and Chocolate Chip. The fabric pink brad is a new accessories item that will be available on January 4.

I am just so excited over it all... can you imagine? It feels good to sit down and create...

Happy Holidays to you all,

Liza

Play Date

Good morning, crafting friends...

I have 2 things to share today. My friend Karolina is on a diaper cake roll (LOL...) and this last one is just as cute with tiny socks crafted into flowers and little baby shoes as cake toppers and finished off with brown ribbons, I just had to share :) (hello Karolina... enjoy your holiday!! Love your creations!!)

This is a card that I made with a sliver left over paper from the Play Date Designer Series Paper :) Proof that hanging on to those little scraps are not a waste, after all :) I love Tempting Turquoise paired with Real Red and everything for me lately has to be finished off with buttons and ribbon! (wink.. wink)...

Thank you, crafting friends for peeking in today. Happy crafting to you.

Hugs,

Liza

FTL121

Good Saturday morning, crafting friends... FTL121 is posted on the Clean and Simple Stamping blog and it is my starting point for today's creation.

I am changing direction totally from winter and Christmas into pink and hearts :) You see, my pre order of the Occasions Mini arrived :) This is a new stamp set called Valentine Defined.

I colored with markers the pretty tree image with Blushing Bride, Tangerine Tango and Chocolate Chip. The Tangerine Tango pom pom trim is a new item that will be available soon and love how it adds a touch of whimsy :)

Everything is mounted with Stampin' Dimensionals (I don't know what I will do without it... wink...)

Thanks for peeking in today... Going back to checking my list again now. Enjoy your time with loved ones this weekend.

Hugs,

Liza

Christmas wreath

Hello there, crafting friends...

I had made this Christmas wreath some time ago when playing around with my friend Herly when she came to visit and I just broke open the Autumn Spice Specialty Designer Series Paper. Even though these are autumn colors, I totally think it works for Christmas as well and the colors are such that it works for hanging anywhere at home. Just punched different circles, scallop circles, and stars. Plenty of Stampin' Dimensionals. Some buttons and pearls to finish it off. Pretty easy, actually and I could make more of it, except that there is no more of the rattan wreath at the shop where I got it from...

This next one is my first try of the Letterpress which Stampin' Up! starts carrying in the Holiday Mini catalog. This one is called Joyful Season. Love those cute stockings images. I had gotten it for some time and finally had time to play with it. You need a Big Shot machine for this. Just one more thing that makes this machine more versatile! A big plus, I think.

I like the look it creates, elegant and simple. But I need to play some more to get the position of the card stock better :) (wink.. wink..)

Did you try anything new this week? I hope you are having a good creative day today. Thank you for peeking.

Hugs,

Liza

Christmas cookies

Good morning, crafting friends... How are you all doing? This is the last week of school, a flurry of activities here... so busy :) My son is going to school in a festive spirit, wearing his Santa hat :)

I wanted to share the beautiful hand drawn sugar cookies that my friend Herly made. She was inspired by the swirly curly Christmas tree on the Contempo Christmas stamp set for these cookies :) She is a talented baker and a beautiful person inside. What a privilege to get to know her this past year.

Here is a card that I had made with the Growing Green stamp set and matching Woodland Walk Designer Series Paper.

The sentiment is from "Crosses of Hope" stamp set, which I broke open for this card :) I added a length of linen thread and Victoria trim finish off the card.

My preorder of the Occasions Mini Catalog arrived last night... Woo hoo!! This is really faster than I thought with the Christmas season and all, so thank you USPS! And thank you my husband who lugged it home :) What a joy to break open the box to see all the new goodies inside... hmm... I hope I have some time to play. (wink wink...)

So, I am going to leave you here and wish you all a good rest of the week and accomplishment to do all that is on your to do list.

Happy crafting,

Liza

Christmas baked goodies set

Good morning, crafting friends... I dressed up a packaged baked goodies with a Cherry Cobbler scallop circle die cut and ribbon and a little "for you" tag. I thought this makes the pineapple jam cookies inside is extra special :)

And then, I thought it needed a card to go with it. So, I played with the Designer Buttons and created some quick Christmas cards- the buttons fashioned as a Christmas tree.

It makes me happy to see this cheerful combination :) The big Pretty in Pink button is from the Candy Cane Big Designer Buttons (on the Holiday Mini Catalog). Very pretty...

A little note: I die cut several of the Top Note piece in Crumb Cake card stock several pieces at a time and just have them sit on my desk for quick creating. The Top Note is just the right size for a lot of things, very versatile, indeed.

Hope that helps... Thank you for peeking in today.

Hugs,

Liza

FTL 120

Happy Saturday morning, crafting friends... It is time for a new sketch at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog and this time mine is a wedding card for a wedding that we will attend next week.

The color of the invite is the closest to Pear Pizzazz so I made that a starting point of today's card.

Sentiment is from Occasional Quotes (level 3 hostess set), the swirly floral image is from Razzle Dazzle stamp set. I punched out an extra Old Olive card stock piece with the Decorative Label punch to frame the floral image, and popped them up with Stampin' Dimensionals. I added jewels and pearls and a bow of Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon.

Thanks for peeking in at what I made today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend...

Hugs,

Liza

2 kinds of cakes

Good morning, crafting friends...

Over the past week, 2 friends have created 2 different kinds of "cakes" (not the edible kind, but still yummy!! ha ha) that I thought would be fun to share and hopefully inspire :)

This one up here is what Karolina made last week for one of the girls in her small group who is getting married soon. The "cake" is made from small white towels, decorated with red roses. This is what she presented to the bride-to-be during the lunch Karolina hosted for her in honor of her upcoming wedding.

Karolina was inspired to make a similar one after this diaper cake that she made earlier :)

And speaking of a diaper cake, my dear friend Marlene created this yummy diaper cake below in honor of a friend of hers who is going to be a father soon :)

This is Marlene's first try at a diaper cake, I think it is too cute!!

So, what do you think? If you are inspired to make one of yours too, please share :) I would love to see it :)

Hope you have a good creative day today...

Hugs,

Liza

FTL119

Good Saturday morning, crafting friends... Last night before I went to bed, I quickly popped in to check the clean and simple stamping blog and see that Natasha has put up a new sketch as above.

So this morning, the sketch is my starting point for this:

I am honored to get an order of some Christmas cards, so this one will be one of them :) I started with a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock and stamped my own patterned paper with the images from Jolly Bingo Bits. Added a length of Wild Wasabi card stock, that had been polka dotted and scalloped on the bottom.

The sentiment is from Contempo Christmas set, I think it is a nice font combination.

Then I finished off with a piece of Victoria trim, a big Wild Wasabi button (from the Candy Cane big designer buttons in the Holiday Mini catalog), tied with linen thread. Oh and I rounded the bottom corners to soften the edges.

Love having been able to join along today and thank you for peeking in. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Hugs,

Liza

FTL118

Good morning, crafting friends... I saw the FTL118 sketch over the weekend but I was not sure that I would have time to create this week... but I did. So I am glad to play along.

Here is the sketch as my starting point:

here is what I came up with:

My color combo is Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake and Basic Black. I added a strip of Cherry Cobbler card stock that had been polka dotted with Versa mark ink. The big snowflake is die cut with the Snowflake #2 die, finished off with a button from the Neutrals Collection designer buttons and a linen thread.

The sentiment is from Occasional Quotes stamp set (hostess level 3).

Thank you for peeking in today... happy crafting to you.

Hugs,

Liza

Fabric flower

Good morning, crafting friends... this is my first try playing with fabric :) Stampin' Up! has designer fabric in the Holiday Mini catalog. This one I am using is called Candy Cane Christmas and in fact, it is 50% off right now until Nov. 30, 2010 in my online store.

I cut up a piece of the fabric with the Big Shot machine and Scallop #2 die. Layered it with a piece of punched out 2 3/8" scallop circle punch and a piece of doily. Finished off my hand made flower embellishment with a Real red button from the Candy Cane Big Designer Buttons (also in the Holiday Mini) and a remnant Pretty in Pink 1/8" taffeta ribbon.

I will have to play with fabric some more... it is fun to try a different texture other than paper and card stock :) I know some of you are quilters so you have been further along in your experiment and journey with fabric :)

My color combo for this cheery card is Real Red, Pretty in Pink and Baja Breeze.

Thank you for peeking today... happy crafting to you.

Hugs,

Liza

Christmas ornament

Good morning, crafting friends... I first saw this Christmas ornament in Ingrid Danvers' blog post here. I admire all her cards, they are colorful and has some whimsical touches to it. So I decided to make one of my own paper ornament from the scallop circle die and my Big Shot machine.

I added doilies, the images from the Artistic Etchings and Notably Ornate stamp sets, buttons, ribbon and twine.

These are pretty easy to make and if you crank up the circles ahead of time, you can make several of these in one sitting :)

Hope your weekend is a relaxing one and happy crafting to you.

Hugs,

Liza

Altered Note books

Good morning, crafting friends... Are you having plans for Thanksgiving?

My friend Karolina and I got together to make several of these altered note books for all the girls in her small group. Here are a couple of them. I forgot to take a picture of all of them lined up together because she brought them all home and she had to rush out the door :) Ha ha...

They would actually look so sweet together as a group. Buttons, blings, lace and ribbon. Oh my...

I hope the girls will like it...

Thank you to all of you who stopped by.

Hugs,

Liza

Christmas wreath

Hello there, crafting friends...

Here is another project that I made with this pack of Specialty Designer Series Paper Autumn Spice. I had several of these rattan wreath that I had gotten from a rattan shop here. Even though the paper says autumn, it does not have to be limited to autumn projects only. I turned it into a Christmas wreath by pairing the Cajun Craze, Old Olive and Early Espresso color combo.

Various circles, stars, buttons and pearls. Mounted everything up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

It is done.

A wonderful gift for someone on your list.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Hugs,

Liza

Grateful

Happy weekend, crafting friends...

I just received a new pack of this Specialty Designer Series Paper called Autumn Spice (found in the Holiday Mini catalog) which is really pretty and classy looking because it is a card stock weight patterned paper and it is textured. I had to admire it for a long time before I finally dared to cut it :) (Do you ever feel that way? Ha ha!!)

First up from this paper pack is a quick Thanksgiving card. Cajun Craze card base. A smaller piece of the patterned paper block. Stamped a sentiment and a leaf (stamp set is called Falling Leaves). Punched out with my Decorative Label punch (which never leaves my desk because I need it all the time...) and popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

A twine tied through twice finished it up.

I made several of these for each of the friend I am grateful for.

Thanks for peeking.

Hugs,

Liza

FTL117

Happy Saturday morning, crafting friends... the FTL117 sketch went up on Friday night in our part of the world this week :) I had a little bit of crafting time after the children went to bed, so I was able to play along.

Here is the sketch:

Here is my take:

I am playing with colors that I don't normally reach for, so it is good to stretch out a little further out of my comfort zone. I love adding those pretty trims. A quick and easy way to adhere those trims is to use glue dots underneath. They are practically invisible. You get a good clean neat result every time.

Here is the card's ingredient (all Stampin' Up! supplies):

Card stock: Cajun Craze

Designer Series Paper: Autumn Spice

Stamp set: Because I Care (hostess level 1)

Ink pad: Early Espresso

Tools: 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1 3/4" scallop circle punch, Scallop Edge border punch

Accesories: Victoria 5/8" trim, Basic Pearls, linen thread, Regals buttons, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots.

Thank you for peeking in today.

Hugs,

Liza

Merry Christmas pop up card

Happy Friday, crafting friends.... it is a wonderful day of getting together with stamping friends today :) We made a pop up card, which you can find the instruction here. This is a fun technique that you can always fall back on whenever we need to make a special card for a special someone :)

You need either a Word Window punch or a Modern Label for this and it will be super quick and easy once you have the right tool.

Here is our version today.

Front view:

Wild Wasabi card base layered with Wild Wasabi patterned paper from the Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack. Stamp set used is called Contempo Christmas and then punched out with the Ornament punch. Love everything designed together like this to make creating a jiffy. I added 2 medium pearls and a Cherry Cobbler binding seam (in the Holiday Mini catalog) to finish off this simple card.

Here is the inside. I colored with marker that pretty Christmas tree image: Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi and Chocolate Chip. Don't forget to huff and then stamped on a piece of Very Vanilla card stock.

I think it will be a nice surprise for the recipient of this card to open and see something special inside.

Hope it will inspire you to make one of your own... Thanks for peeking in.

Hugs,

Liza

FTL116

Hello there, again crafting friends :) I checked that FTL116 is up and was able to squeeze in some crafting time... so here it is :)

Here is the sketch as my starting point:

Here is what I made.

Top Note die is a favorite and I cut it out of patterned paper (Designer Series Paper Love Letters). I added 2 punched out Basic Black snowflakes, topped with Riding Hood Red button and Old Olive button, threaded with twine. The sentiment is from a stamp set called Contempo Christmas.

Thank you for peeking in.... enjoy your weekend....

Hugs,

Liza

Jolly Bingo Bits 2

Happy Saturday morning, crafting friends....

There is a super sweet stamp set at the Holiday Mini catalog called Jolly Bingo Bits. The set contains 24 cute little images that I think can be used beyond the Holiday season. When I first saw it, I was immediately attracted to it. The first thing that I had in mind when I saw that stamp set is to make my own patterned paper with whatever color combo I want to... how wonderful :)

The card above is a cheerful Christmas one with snowmen, candies and stockings... the sentiment is from hostess set level 3 Occasional Quotes. The set has 12 sentiments in it... in my opinion, you can never have too many sentiments...

Here is another one of my home made patterned paper with this set below....

Cute penguins, mittens and stockings.... the colors are: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait and Crumb Cake. I finished them off with blings. Sentiment is from hostess set level 2 Apple Blossoms.

I hope you will be inspired to make your own patterned paper, perhaps... thank you for peeking in what I made today.

Hugs,

Liza

Kindness

Good morning, blogging friends... My friend Ira sent me her beautiful hand made card... I just love all that neutral color look! Thank you so much, Ira!! You have a beautiful style...

And here is one I made with a neutral card base: Naturals Ivory card stock. I added a pop of Riding Hood Red sentiment and a Tempting Turquoise button.

Thank you for peeking in. I hope you have a great weekend.

Hugs,

Liza

Vintage gift card holder

Good morning, crafting friends... I am loving this vintage style and DSP Love Letter. I made a gift card holder with it from a piece of 8.5"x11" card stock folded into 3 parts.

The wide belly band is a piece of Crumb Cake card stock that I had stamped medallions all over it. Then, embellish as you wish.

See this yummy beautiful fresh veggies? This is a weekly delivery that we receive from a local organic farm. What a treat!! The selections change every week, depending on what they harvest that morning. Isn't this amazing? Thankful for wonderful abundant fresh produce here :)

Thank you for stopping by today.

Hugs,

Liza

FTL115

Happy Sunday, blogging friends... here is a quick post of what I created this morning with the latest sketch from the Clean and Simple stamping blog. I always enjoy following the weekly sketch there and wait for what Natasha comes up with every weekend :)

here is the sketch... love those circle lining up...

here is my take...

the circle punches make it super quick, they are raised up with Stampin' Dimensionals and the leaf die cut is a left over from my fall wreath project last week. My color combos are some of the In Colors: Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Riding Hood Red and Chocolate Chip. The leaves images and sentiment are from Falling Leaves set.

Thank you for peeking...

Hugs,

Liza

Just Because

Good morning, crafting gals...

I am playing with the Notably Ornate stamp set and the matching Love Letter Designer Series Paper to make some feminine cards. It is pretty simple and yet so pretty. I started with a Riding Hood Red card base and a block of polka dot paper, glued a piece of trim. I stamped that ornate note on a piece of Crumb Cake card stock, rounded the corners, stamped the bird, popped up the whole block with Stampin' Dimensionals. Then popped up the sentiment again. I then finished off with the largest pearl from the Basic Pearls.

On this next card, I stamped the Eiffel Tower directly on the patterned paper. Then, I added the pearls, trim and buttons. These buttons are a gift from my crafting friend Marlene. I love that little cream flower button, Marlene. They are so pretty.

Pretty simple, right? Hopefully I inspired you to create something feminine today...

Hugs,

Liza

FTL 114

Hello there everyone... hope you have a good day today... here is FTL 114 sketch at the Clean and Simple stamping blog.

and here is what I made with the sketch:

I paired the Love Letter DSP with a Tempting Turquoise card base and then used the different images in the Notably Ornate stamp set to decorate the card.

Hope you like it... thanks for peeking in...

Hugs,

Liza

Butterflies die cuts

Good morning, crafting friends...

I don't know if you can tell, but I always have some butterflies die cut on my die cut basket on my desk... so what do I do with them? I add them to my cards. Here are a couple cards below that I pair with scrap paper from my scrap bin.

This one is for our neighbor's newborn baby...

This one below is for my friend Sesil who is such a blessing to get to know....

I hope you enjoy the butterflies today... Thanks for peeking.

Hugs,

Liza