Happy Friday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July! We hung out with our neighbors for most of the day, but we all had to work today. So, we didn't make it to see any fireworks, but I did hear them when they woke me up from my slumber. I was the only one - the husband & two dogs didn't even move. Lol!

I wanted to let my blog friends know that we are having a July 4th holiday weekend sale over at Pinkfresh Studio.

Almost the entire store is eligible for the 15% off code - the only items excluded are the June washi release (NEW), Featured/Sale, and the Mail Delivery stamp set (charity). But, the Featured products are already 50% off, so that is still a really great sale in itself. You can absolutely grab regular priced items with the Featured items, and when you use the code 15OFFJULY4TH, it will take the 15% discount off the eligible items.

I didn't want the bows that I created for the ad above to go to waste, so I quickly made them into this fun, patriotic themed card. I'm not one to send cards for July 4th, but I do love the colors of our country, and I think this is a perfect birthday card or party invite! I started by diecutting everything with my Gemini Jr. First I diecut the bows twice from the Joyful Day, Out & About and gold glitter papers using the Partial Cut Bouquet & Bow die set. Once all the pieces were diecut, I put the bows together. (Then I took the photo of the ad. Lol!)

Next I diecut the Geo Star 1 background from heavyweight white cardstock. Then I cut the Let's Party word die three times: once from gold glitter paper, and twice from heavyweight white cardstock. I use a metal shim when cutting this die from glitter paper because it is so intricate & thin. This gives it better pressure, and the cut pops right from the glitter sheet.

Finally, I adhered everything to the front of an A2 card base, popping the Geo Star 1 background up with foam dots. Then I accented with our Essentials: Jewel Mix in white & blue. The teeny red jewels are from Michael's. 

That's everything I have to share with you today! This card was super easy to put together, and it just took a little time diecutting. It would be super cute for a BBQ or party, but I will probably use it for a birthday card.

Our 15% off sale is valid through this Sunday, and it will work on every Pinkfresh Studio product I used if you want to recreate it! I think it would be a really fun Christmas card as well, if you just changed out the sentiment.

That is all I have for you today! I wanted to invite you to follow me on social media if you'd like. I would love to be crafty friends!

Happy 4th of July, blog friends! I hope that my US friends are having an awesome holiday so far! It looks like ours is going to be rained out...a bit of a bummer, but I have SO much Pinkfresh work to do getting ready for our new release on Monday that I'm not going to worry about it!

Before I get to my card, I just wanted to mention a few sales that are ending today! It's a great time to shop and get some amazing savings! Just click on the banners below to take you to the stores!

Hey there, everyone!!  So, I am finally coming up for air from all the projects that I have had to create in the past two weeks!!  Tee hee!  Everything made it to CHA safe and sound, and I have seen some of them in the booth photos that are circulating the internet right now.  That is always fun!!

I have been so busy this month, that I never got to share something fun with you!  Kimber sent me an email awhile back, asking if I would like to guest design in July for the Jillibean Soup Card Kitchen Kit Club.  Of course I said yes...Jillibean Soup is so fun to work with, and the kits always have such cute embellishments and such in them.  I created nine cards with the kit, and today I finally have a moment to actually share them with you!  Check them out!
Card Challenges:
-Clearly Inspired #55- some like it hot
-Raise the Bar #108- red, white & blue (first two cards)
-Divas by Design #44- anything goes

I know that I typically don't share this many cards in one post, but I wanted to get them all out for you to see!!  If love Jillibean Soup and haven't checked out their card kit, I highly suggest it!  The kit is only $22.99 + shipping, and you can create a TON of cards from it.  It comes with 8 card bases, but I had plenty paper, stickers and diecuts left over to create some more!  As you can see, I created 9 cards (because I got an extra card base) and I would bet that I could have created at least 4-5 more cards with the leftover product I had.  Maybe more if you went with a simpler design.

Well, that is everything I have for you today!  I hope you have an awesome day! ♥♥♥

Until later,
~Lea L.






















Jillibean Soup Card Kitchen Kit - July

Happy Tuesday, everyone!!  I hope this posts finds you having had a wonderful July 4th and a great start to your week!!  I have a patriotic card to share with you today, and I am just LOVING how it turned out!!  It combines so many of my favorite elements, and is perfectly shabby!!

It is one of my card for Stamper's Dream this month...using an older JustRite stamp set from the store.  This stamp set is perfect to have on hand for all the different holidays during the year!

It is also my card for CPS Sketch #225 this week....which is a fun one!!  As you can see...I changed out the middle rectangle layers with a doily cut in half.  I think it is important to showcase that you don't have to use all the exact shapes, etc...when using a CPS sketch!! You can really turn them into your own, while still creating something that resembles the sketch well!

I also created this card for The Shabby Tea Room #69 {July 4th & Red/White/Blue}, and for OTWC #56 {red, white, any shade of blue}.  The inspiration photos for both of these challenges is located below the instructions, if you would like to see them!  As you can see...I used a couple different shades of blue on this one...and I just love it!!  The country blue and traditonal navy blue just go so well together!! Here is what I created!

The month of July is when America celebrates its independence.  But, we wouldn't have that independence without the sacrifice of our armed forces, and their families.  For this month's technique post, I chose to focus on cards that honor those in our military.

The technique that I am sharing with you is by no means a new one, but one that maybe you haven't visited in awhile.  I seem to forget how much texture and detail sanding can add to a project, and paired with the beautiful texture of GCD Studios papers....it is a sure winner.

The supply list is pretty basic.  All you need is some sandpaper, your patterned paper block, and an old surface that you don't mind getting scratched up.
When I sand paper block, I start by sanding the edges first.  It brings out that nice white core to the paper, and adds a great border to the paper block.
I don't normally sand inside of the paper block....but GCD Studios paper just screams for it to be done.  Check out how much texture and detail the sanding brings out of the paper block:
And here is a little side by side comparison to some unsanded GCD Studios paper.  They are both gorgeous....
And here are the two cards that I came up with.  My first card was meant for sending to wherever your soldier might be located.  I read somewhere online that you don't want to ever send cards that have glitter on them to a soldier, because glitter makes them visible at night if it gets on them at all.  So, I made sure that I didn't use any type of paper with glitter on it.  I also made the card very flat, so it would be easier to send, and wouldn't possibly cause any mail problems.  Look at how much texture the sanding gives the card, even with the card being so flat in nature.
This next card is meant to give to your soldier once they get home.  This one is chalk full of glittery paper, jewels, dimension, sanding, texture....you name it.  Soldiers coming home deserve all the decoration in the world....so why shouldn't their welcome home card be the same?
All of the papers on these cards are from the Independence collection by GCD Studios.  This is a completely fabulous paper set, and works with so many different themes....but especially patriotic themes.  They are a perfect addition to your scrapbooking paper collection!

Thanks for honoring our soldiers with me this month!

Until later,
~Lea

...and I am finally sharing the July 4th cards that I made with you!  Sheesh!  It has been a long 5 days for me....and I just didn't get it done.

But first up...is my card for CPS Sketch 174 this week.  We were sponsored by Gina K Designs this week, and I picked Nina's fabulous Fine Furnishings set!!  Love it!  I have a lot more ideas for this stamp set...can't wait to share them with you!!  Hopefully soon!

Happy Sunday everyone!!  It is time for another fabulous color challenge courtesy of Stacey's Stamping Stage blog!!  Check out these fabulously patriotic colors for the week:
Perfect for a 4th of July card, which is what I made for my card this week.  Here is what I came up with using these awesome colors!!