Happy Tuesday, blog friends!  How are you doing so far this week?  We've had a good couple of days!  On Sunday we smoked a turkey, and had our neighbors over for dinner & drinks.  Once it got dark out we lit a fire in their little fire pit & had smores...it was fun!  Yesterday we went for a run, and then had some other friends from church over for burgers.  Lots of yummy cooking over the weekend on the Traeger...best purchase EVER.  At least recently.  Lol!

Today I have a a sassy & fun set of cards using both The Story I Heard Kit & Add-on from Scraptastic Kit Club this month. These kits made me think of gossiping with my girlfriends (not mean gossiping...just the fun banter that only women understand) and just being silly together.  I've moved away from all of my best girlfriends, and these cards make me miss them so much!!  I am so looking forward to our visit home this summer when we can stay up late & chat to our hearts content!!

These cards were inspired by those moments when you just HAVE to talk to one of your girlfriend's about something that seems pretty major (if only for a moment) or during those times when you are bummed out & just need someone to validate you.  Check them out!
One of the things I love most about working with kits is having a true focus on certain products.  I love to take everything out of its packaging, and lay it out so it is easy to grab from.  And that is how both of these cards came together.  After cutting & planning out the paper blocks...I did what I call "grab & go".  Don't think to hard about it....grab for items and start placing them here & there around your card.  You will put things back that don't work out and move things around a bit...but in the end you have a really fun card that is full of things you might not have thought to put on it at first glance!!



I also was inspired by these challenges:
-Viva la Verve May 2014 - week 3 & week 4 sketches
-The Pink Elephant #252 - anything goes

That is everything I have to share with you today!!  I hope that you have an awesome Tuesday!

Until later,
~L.

Happy Thursday, friends!!  How has your week been so far?  Pretty good here...been a pretty normal, average week!  We are having friends over on Saturday and Josh is going to smoke a brisket...YUM!!

I am up on the Scraptastic Blog today with Jocelyn, and we have issued the first challenge in May! We noticed that both of the scrapbooking kits had telephone(s) in them, and decided that it would be a great challenge idea!!  So our challenge for you is to create a project using a telephone on it - the telephone can come in any form (ie; patterned paper, diecut, stamp, etc....)  You can link your challenge projects HERE.

I completely fell in love with all the conversation bubbles & telephone icons included in the kits that I received.  It made me think of my very best friend back in my hometown of Missoula, and how much I miss her!!  I think she might like to receive this card in the mail...how about you?  I'm trying to be better about staying in closer contact with everyone back home, and these kits are going to give me a TON of thinking of you/missing you cards to send!
 I used goodies from both The Story I Heard Kit & Add-on for this card.  I started with a sheet of the 12x12 coral colored cardstock, and cut an A2 card base from it.  I cut the conversation bubble patterned paper slightly smaller, rounded the corners with a small corner punch and adhere it directly to the card base.  After that I layered all the different diecuts, chipboard stickers, flair & enamel dots to the front...popping the Mini Placemat from Jillibean Soup up with foam adhesive.

There are so many fun items in these kits, and I just love the sweet theme this month.  Both kits are chalked full of the Pink Paislee "Switchboard" products, which I am totally obsessed with right now!! I can tell I am going to be VERY busy crafting my time away this month with all the great bits & pieces!!  I can't wait!

I created this card for the following challenges as well:
-Retro Sketches #113
-The Kraft Journal #170 - Just For Her
-Cure for the Monday Blues #16 - photo inspiration

Well, I hope that you've enjoyed my card today and I hope that you will play along with us in our telephone challenge over at the Scraptastic blog!!  It will be lots of fun!!

Until later,
~L.

Hey there, blog friends!  How is your Tuesday going?  I will admit...I'm being a little lazy today.  I guess that is okay....but I do need to get going on some things.  So- after writing this blog post, it will be time to get to work!  On a good note- I worked out yesterday, & have plans to do the same again!  Got to get my body back into swimsuit mode for summmer.....lol.

I have a sweet little love card to share with you today!  And while it is about love, it isn't your usual Valentine's colors/look...so it can be used at any time. {Which is my fave type of love card!!}  I used Pink Paislee's Colorwash collection on this card & some other bits & baubles...check it out!
"Love You More" Instructions:
1. Make A2 card from white cardstock.
2. Cut background paper slightly smaller, then adhere.
3. Stamp the three watercolor paint brushes to the center of the card.
4. Diecut a tag from vellum, then stamp the word "LOVE", cover in embossing powder & heat set.
5. Tie a double bow from metallic gold twine.
6. Adhere two tags, a circle sticker & twine bow together with an enamel topped brad.
7. Tuck the pink label sticker through the diecut letters on the bottom tag, then adhere the entire tag to the front.
8. Accent with gold star sequins & enamel dots to finish.

Card Challenges:
-Retro Sketches #100
-Simon Says Wednesday - twine or string

Quick Tip: I only had really bright yellow inks, & I wanted the stamped watercolor brush to be a lot lighter.  So, I put popcorn colored ink on the stamp first, then added the canary yellow ink to the top of it very lightly.  This gave me the exact shade of yellow that I wanted!!  I tried it out on a scrap piece of white cardstock first, to make sure I didn't need to make any adjustments to the ink amounts.

I love how this turned out...I haven't quite had the guts to jump into the whole paints, mists, artsy type of crafting, but I really do love the look of it.  I was happy that I was able to achieve the look with patterned paper & stamping.  I hope you like it too....I would love to hear what you think!!

That is all I have for you today....have a wonderful Tuesday!

Until later,
~L.

Happy Thursday, everyone!!  How have the past couple of days been for you?  Mine have been great, but I'm even more excited because my husband will FINALLY be home today!  Yay!!  I was awakened bright & early yesterday to a text from my lifelong best friend with news that he got engaged the night before, which just warms my heart.  I cannot wait to meet his fiance....sometime soon hopefully!!  My other best friend, Meagan, came over the other night and we had dinner together and watched Breaking Dawn 2.  I finished editing and sent off the images to one of my couples that were married in March.  Just been trying to stay busy while I'm all alone...tee hee!  That just makes me sound pitiful...it really isn't that bad, I promise.  :)

And of course...I've created some cards. ;)  I have spring themed love card to share with you today, using some older (but still FAB!) Pink Paislee papers/tag, and freshened it up with some Studio Calico "Sundrifter" & other newer embellishments.  Here is what I created!
Instructions:
1. Make a 5-inch card from white cardstock.
2. Cut pink paper slightly smaller, and adhere to the front.
3. Cut a thin strip of map paper, and adhere to the left side.
4. Layer a doily, journal card & tag to the card front, then add a glitter photo corner & jewel to the tag.
5. Add a dimensional scalloped border across the top, then accent with a sentiment diecut & wooden quotes.
6. Add the sticker tab, pearls, dated snippet, and accent with a diecut heart from map paper.
7. Add a feather tag to the top of the card, then accent with a ribbon bow.
8. Accent the front with paper flowers & feather diecuts to finish.

Challenges:
-Pink Paislee Craft N Connect - Spring Color Combo
-Viva la Verve! April Week 1 - Sketch
-Simon Says Stamp - Spring Flowers
-Stamp and Create April - Use a Diecut
-V's Sweet Ideas #10 - Anything Goes











I just love the color combo and the feminine feel of this card...not to mention all the fun bits & baubles from some of my favorite manufacturers!  Do you have a set of go to manufacturers that you find yourself reaching for quite often?  I know that I do!  Mine would be Glitz Design, Studio Calico, American Crafts/Dear Lizzy, Crate Paper & of course, Prima!  I also just recently got some really fabulous October Afternoon product from ScrapbookDailyDeals.com, and it is already starting to make it's way into "reach for" status.  :)

Well, that is all I have for you today!  I hope that you have a wonderful rest of your day, and I will be back soon with another card to share!

Until later,
~L.

Hey there, everyone!  How has your weekend been so far?  I have had a great one...spent some time with my family and belatedly celebrated my birthday with them!  On Friday night we went to Lydia's for dinner, and then the Acoma for martinis....I have some Instagram photos at the end of the post to share of our night out together!  It was a really fun night, and nice to spend some time with my family.  The next morning the guys went ice fishing- my mom and I were going to meet them, but as we were driving there they called and told us that the fish just weren't biting.  So- we met them for lunch at a local restaurant....where Josh also told me some bad news.  His wedding ring fell down one of the ice fishing holes.  So- we made our way home early....and went ring shopping at Adair's.  Ha!  Stuff happens...and thankfully material things are replaceable.

Today is day 3 of the WPlus9 release, and we have one more stamp set & matching die to share with you.  Here is the information on them:

Written On Ribbon

• is a 4x6 clear photopolymer stamp set
• contains 24 high quality photo-polymer stamps; 23 sentiments and sentiment builders and 1 ribbon banner image
• will be available for purchase February 5th for $14

Written On Ribbon Companion Die

• coordinates with the Written On Ribbon stamp set
• will be available for purchase February 5th for $6

 I combined them with the "Cupid's Arrow" stamp set, and created a super sweet Valentine!  I paired the stamps with Pink Paislee's "Secret Crush" collection {can I just say I love the name of that collection.  It makes me smile every time I type it...like I have a secret myself, or something....tee hee!}.  Here is my glittery, shimmery Valentine!
Instructions:
1. Make A2 card from pink swiss dot cardstock.
2. Cut notebook paper slightly smaller, and adhere.
3. Cut a banner edge to a dotted paper strip, then adhere to the middle.
4. Layer a doily heart & a diecut heart to top of the dotted banner.
5. Cut out the banner, cover in glitter and adhere to the upper left corner.
6. Diecut & stamp the ribbon banner, then add a custom sentiment inside of it.
7. Layer the ribbon banner to the card front, with a diecut ticket in the lower right corner of the hearts.
8. Diecut, stamp & glitter the cupids, then adhere to each side of the ribbon banner.
9. Add a diecut arrow & heart to the bottom of the card, then accent with jewels.
10. Add two silver star confetti pieces to the front to finish.

Challenges:
-The Sweet Stop Sketch #196 - Sketch
-Sweet Stampin' - Love
-Loves Rubberstamps #37 - Hearts
-Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes










Today's stamp set has so many wonderful possibilities, and can be used with so many different WPlus9 sentiment stamps.  It will be a great addition to your WPlus9 library, and definitely a must have!  All of this month's release will go on sale at midnight on February 5th...so not much longer now!

Be sure to check out what the rest of the designers have created for you today!

• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Elise Durenberger
• Jean Martin
• Jinny Newlin
• Kerrianne Gwin
• Lea Lawson
• Sarah Martina Parker
• Savitri Wilder
• Christina MacLaren - Guest Designer

And don't forget....you can comment to win each day of the release on Dawn's blog!  Read her blog post each day for commenting instructions!!

And now....on to some Instagram photos!  If you would like to see my Instagram photos as I post them, just search user @ltllea23....I would love to have you follow me!  I post personal photos, along with my cards, and quite often....my creative process!!
 The first three are from my quick trip up to Ronan on Wednesday to get my hair done!  It takes a lot of work to keep this naturally curly haired girl straight....ha!  The last three photos are from this weekend!  They put a candle in my huckleberry ice cream at Lydia's....that was sweet!  The next is the best lemon drop martini ever....and the last one is me & Josh with my bro & his girl!

Well, that is all I have for you today!  I hope you have a wonderful rest of your weekend!!  Enjoy the Super Bowl if I don't post before then!

Until later,
~L.

Good morning, everyone!!  Did you have a great Monday?  I certainly hope so!  I had a pretty normal day, then worked out this evening....and then we went over to Grant & Meagan's for dinner.  Not much else on my home front.

Just wanted to add a quick note that I have updated the "For Sale" tab on my blog.  There is A LOT on it, and good prices....so be sure to check it out!  

Today I have the rest of my projects for my guest design spot with Mama Elephant this month!  For the first card I am featuring the Mama Elephant "Smitten" stamp set, which I think might be my FAVE from this release.  It has the sweetest sentiments, and super trendy accent images to go along with them.  I combined the stamp set with Glitz's new "Color Me Happy" collection....and it was just the perfect fit.  Here is what I made!
Instructions:
1. Make an A2 card from red cardstock.
2. Cut chalkboard paper slightly smaller, sand the edges and adhere.
3. Cut a strip of rainbow people paper and adhere to the middle.
3. Round the corners of the text paper, then adhere to the left side.
4. Add a strip of washi tape to the right side.
5. Stamp a feather to cardstock, cut out and adhere to the right side.
6. Cut a banner edge to chalkboard paper, sand the edges and stamp the sentiment to it.
7. Cut a circle from woodgrain paper, and stamp the hands to it.
8. Layer the sentiment banner & stamped circle over top of the feather accent.
9. Tie a double bow from twine, and adhere with a rhinestone to the front.
10. Add a pin to the sentiment cluster to finish.

Challenges:
-Moving Along with the Times - Bling
-There She Goes #192 - Woodgrain
-Pile It On #4 - Washi Tape
-Frosted Design Fabulous Friday - Music (my card is inspired by a song!)










My next card uses the new Mama Elephant "Type It" stamp set.  This stamp set includes the cutest little typewriter, and some really fabulous sentiment possibilities.  I chose to go with a love theme since Valentine's Day is so close...and it paired perfectly with these Pink Paislee "Secret Crush" papers.  Here is my card!
Instructions:
1. Make A2 card from light grey cardstock.
2. Cut floral paper slightly smaller, round the corners and adhere.
3. Cut a grey polka dot paper strip, round the right hand corners and adhere.
4. Line the back of a diecut card with pink cardstock and heart paper, then adhere to the front.
5. Stamp the typewriter & sentiment paper to cardstock and vellum, cut out and adhere.
6. Add a diecut heart & pearl to the top of the sentiment.
7. Add a diecut arrow and ticket to the card, then accent with pearls.
8. Add heart confetti to the top right corner to finish.

Challenges:
-Just Add Ink #150 - Sketch
-The Pink Elephant #184 - Hearts
-Loves Rubberstamps #37 - Have a Heart










I have seriously loved guest designing for Mama Elephant this month.  I just adore their sweet and fun stamp sets, and the fresh style that Kryssi has brought to the stamping world.  I hope that you've enjoyed my projects this month using these new stamps, and I can't wait to see what you all start creating with them as well!  Have a great rest of your day!

Until later,
~L.

Happy World Card Making Day, friends!!  What a fun day this is....a day for the craft loving community to create and share together.  It is truly inspiring!

I created a card for today, and will hopefully get quite a few more cards done as the day goes on.  I created this for one of the Pink Paislee World Card Making challenges that they have been sharing on their blog all week long.  Here is what I created!
Instructions:
1. Make A2 card from vintage cream cardstock.
2. Cut blue damask paper slightly smaller.
3. Add a strip of pink lace to a floral paper block, then adhere the entire piece to the damask paper.
4. Tie seam binding around the middle, finishing with a double bow on the left side.
5. Adhere the entire paper block to the card front, then accent above the lace with a pearl strip.
6. Diecut a window from a cardstock block, then stamp the sentiment to it.
7. Adhere a pink paper block to the front, then adhere the window block over top of it with foam adhesive.
8. Diecut the hearts & butterfly from patterned paper & felt.  Adhere the butterfly to the upper right corner, and accent with pearls.
9. Stick a heart topped pin through the felt heart, then layer inside of the window with the scalloped heart.  Accent the felt heart with a pink pearl.
10. Add a wooden button & pearl to the bow center, and three paper flowers next to the sentiment to finish.

Challenges:
-MFT Guest Designer Sketch challenge
-Pink Paislee Shadowbox Card challenge
-Clearly Inspired #61 - sentimental
-Sweet Stampin' challenge - use a window










Thanks for checking out my soft and sweet card today!  I might have more to share later on today....you never know!!  I hope you have a great day of card making!

Until later,
~L.

Happy Saturday, everyone!!  Before I head out to the wedding I have to shoot today, I have a card to share with you!!  My friend Nina needed another card to share on her blog for today's The Craft's Meow Release Blog Hop, and I was happy to oblige!!  She has designed a new stamp set called "Love Dwells Here", which matches her Spellbinders "Home Sweet Home" dies.  I LOVE it when stamps match dies....it makes things so much easier!

I created a card that would be perfect for welcoming someone into the neighborhood, or when attending a housewarming party with a gift!  I chose soft colors for this card, but added a bit of shimmer & sparkle to it!  I love how it turned out....check it out!
Instructions:
1. Make A2 card from oatmeal cardstock.
2. Cut pink paper slightly smaller, then diecut an eyelet lace border from the bottom of it.
3. Distress ink the edges of both pieces, then adhere to the front.
4. Cut a block of map paper, distress ink the edges and adhere to the middle.
5. Cut two strips of striped paper, punch a border to the thicker one, and distress ink the edges.
6. Adhere the punched border to the top of the map paper, and the thin strip to the bottom.
7. Tie ribbon around the top of the card, then zig-zag stitch along the seams of the striped papers.
8. Diecut the house bottom from fabric, and the top from oatmeal cardstock.
9. Stamp the house top and cover in glitter.  Adhere the two cuts to the middle of the card.
10. Diecut the heart and tag, then stamp as shown.  Adhere the heart to the middle of the house, and the tag to the bow middle.
11. Top the bow with a spool button and pink pearl.
12. Glitter two small flowers and paper leaves, and adhere to the corner of the house with a pearl centered flower.
13. Add three pink pearls to the bottom of the card to finish.

Card Challenges:
-Viva la Verve! July Week 4 - sketch
-The Play Date Cafe #141 - mint, soft yellow, coral, tulip
-Crazy 4 Challenges #146 - stitching
-Crafts and Me #93- ribbon & bow
-The Ribbon Reel #32- sweet sparkles
-Stampin' Sisters in Christ #148- sparkles

Well, I hope that you've enjoyed my card today!! Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!  I'm off to shoot a wedding!!  Have I said lately how much I love my job?!! ♥♥♥

Until later,
~Lea L.

Hey there, everyone!!  How has your week been so far?  Good here...just keeping busy as usual!!  Although today I took most of the day and just did some things that I wanted to do, which was really nice.  Like sleep in- that was fantastic!! :)

Today I have a sweet little pink & aqua card to share with you, using Pink Paislee papers & tag, and a bunch of bits and baubles here and there.  A lot of this product, and many others are now part of the Daily Deals section at StopAndScrap.com.  Lots of great deals in there, so you will definitely want to check it out!

This is my favorite kind-of card to make...where I just pull out a bunch of stuff that matches the papers I want and just go to town.  Typically, unless the card is CAS...this is my process.  It inspires me because I am constantly looking at pretty products, and makes sure that I am using up my stash of product!!  It might require a little extra clean-up time, but it is definitely worth it!  Here is what I created:

Hey there, everyone!  How has your week been so far?  It has been a good one here...kind-of same old, same old, which is always nice.  We did end up getting our television replaced via our service plan from Best Buy because our old one had burn in on the screen.  So- the comparable plasma is one inch larger, and is 3D.  Which, I couldn't care less about...I can't stand watching movies with stupid glasses on.  But, the hubby is happy because the burn in (which I pretty much never saw unless the screen was bright white) drove him crazy...

On a more exciting note {for me anyways....tee hee!}, I am the host for day 13 of our awesome CPS 5th Anniversary Event!  My day is being sponsored by Clearsnap, who has to be one of the most generous sponsors ever!  I would say I use some type of Clearsnap ink on about 95% of my projects, because I just love their ink quality.  For the anniversary event, each designer picked a past CPS sketch favorite, and used it again.  I chose CPS Sketch #121, and here is what I came up with:

Hey there, everyone!  Welcome to day two of the July Lawn Fawn inspiration week!  Today we are showcasing the alphabet set called "Quinn's ABCs".  This set is a larger outlined alpha in a really cute font!  It has so many fun possibilities!

I used Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #19 to help with the design of my card...she create the greatest sketches.  You should really try them out if you haven't already!!  I also used this Pink Paislee collection that I won off the Moxie Fab blog last summer...and have never used any of it!  Which is a shame...because I really love the color combo and the fun patterns in the paper.  So, at last I have cut into it!!

Hey there, everyone!!  Well, today brings on day 2 of the latest releases from WPlus9!!  Today we are sharing another new stamp set, and steel die!  Here is a little bit of information on both of them:

Hope Seed Co.

• is a 6x8 clear photopolymer stamp set
• contains 23 stamps; 4 flower images, 18 sentiment builders and 1 border frame
• will be available for purchase July 10th for just $19

Vintage Envelope Die

• coordinates with Hope Seed Co. stamp set
• measures approx. 3.5" tall x 2.75" wide when folded and assembled
• will be available for purchase July 10th for just $18

This envelope die has so many possibilities, and I can't wait to use it even more!!  For now, I have this sample to share with you!  I used The Sweet Stop Sketch #115 to help with the design of my card.  And I used the Play Date Cafe Challenge #89 {mint, buttercream, taupe}.  My yellow is a bit more saturated than buttercream, but I figure it still works!! Here is what I created!

• Elise Durenberger
• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Jinny Newlin
• Kerrianne Gwin
• Lea Lawson
• Savitri Wilder
• Jean Martin

And don't forget to comment on Dawn's Release Day 2 blog post, as you could win some of these new releases!!  ♥♥♥

• Win Hope Seed Co. and Vintage Envelope Die

Until later,
~Lea L.