25 Days of Christmas Challenge - Day 2

Hello!

Before I start I just wanted to say that I am so happy Fixer Upper is finally back!!  Woo Hoo!  They did not disappoint on the first episode either.  Looking forward to more antics from Chip and more gorgeous reveals designed by Joanna.

For day 2 I thought I would share the cards from my November Secret Sister Swap.  We were asked to make 4 cards (either the same or different) that would be sent to four swap sisters and in return we would receive 4 different cards from everyone who participated.  This helps add to our stash and also spread some Christmas joy.  I will share my card(s) first then the ones from my swap partners.  For my four cards I used a lot of dies and layers of papers.  I also added some charcoal gray and black, I'm really liking how they accent everything.

I used MFT & La-La Land dies, some patterned paper, gems, a doily, charcoal gray colored felt and Petaloo flowers.  I created two of the same concept interchanging the reds and greens.  Here are the four cards together before I sent them off to their new homes...

Here are the four sweet Christmas cards I got in return.  Starting off with this adorably sweet card from Cyndi Kim... 

From Cyndi Kim

Love this adorable image and the pretty snowflake paper.  Next up is this super sweet card from Annie!

From Annie

How sweet is that gingerbread man?  And the fun snowflake stamped and embossed background? This next one is from the very super talented queen of scenes, Karen from Have a Scrap Happy Day!  Hi Karen!!

From Karen!  Hi Karen!!

Love it!  This is the absolutely adorable!  And this last gorgeous card is either from Jayne or Mare Benne:

The sparkle on Santa is sooo cool, it's really stunning IRL.  Aren't they all wonderful?  And they are definitely going in my Christmas card stash to send to some special family and friends.  I really loved this swap idea.  Thanks Kathy!!

Thanks for stopping by for day 2!  I'll be back to share another completed craft project tomorrow.  Happy Hump day!

Hugs,
Leanne

Secret Sister Swap - Catching up

Hello!

Man can't believe how fast the weekend has come and gone!  I'm going to make the most of it by getting in more coloring and possibly more calendars made.  I inherited more calendars from my cousin, Sharmaine, but she also sent me an awesome RAK!  I'll share below, but first I wanted to catch up on the latest Secret Sister Swap.  We had a photo inspiration to tackle featuring some interesting color combos! hahaha!  I don't think I would ever think to intentionally use these colors together.  If I can find the picture I'll share it below.  My swap partner was Cyndi Kim.  She's so talented that I knew I wanted to make her something fun.

This is the card I created using all the colors in the photo inspiration.  Pretty wild combinations right?! lol!  I chose La-La Land Crafts Marci with Rose for my image.  She is so sweet!  I die cut the MFT thanks sentiment and left it in white and embossed with Swiss dots.  After completing the card I sent it off with some goodies.  Here is the wonderfully cute swap she sent me including some fun items I can use for Valentine's Day 2016.

Aren't they cute?!  They're magnets!  I knew she was in to cross-stitch, these are awesome!  She is a very talented crafter.  Here is the rest of the RAK she sent including the magnets.  I'm a lucky girl.

I found the photo inspiration!  It's not a great picture but you can see what we were working with. Very bright and fun. I think we both hit it on the head right?!

Before I end this post I wanted to send a big MAHALO shout out to my cousin Sharmaine!  She and I talk pretty often, if we're not on the phone we're texting or IG'ing.  She mentioned that she was sending me something in the mail.  This is what I got:

Several sheets of gorgeous washi paper, Dandelion Designs stamps,  Sister Stamps stamp, and the cutest shave ice earrings.  Oh and there are those calendars I inherited.  I can't believe all that and more were about to be THROWN AWAY!!  No not by my cousin, she would never be so wasteful. She was lucky enough to be messaged by the store manager who said they were about to throw a box full of papercrafting supplies in the trash and if she wanted them to come get them now.  This is only a portion of what was in that box.  Talk about wasteful, but with a silver lining.  Mucho Mahalo cousin for thinking of me and sharing your amazing haul!  It will take me quite some time to get through them. Hmmm... might be time for a give-a-way!

Well I think this is as good a time as any to stop and say how thankful I am to give and receive in these swaps.  Again if you're interested in joining the next Secret Sister Swap leave me a message in the comments with your email address and I'll forward it on to Kathy who is the organizer.  The next swap is Anything Goes for March/April and your swap must be mailed out by mid-April.  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday cause Monday will come way too soon! 

Lilo's Fun Friday #30 - Hau' oli la Hanau!

Hey everyone!!

O*M*G!! I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged!!  I hope everyone has been doing well and enjoying the summer.  I've been very busy with some other things that will be shared in a month or so. 

I also see that I've gained a few new friends!!  Hello and welcome to my blog! *:)  I hope to start back to blogging and crafting on a regular basis soon.  I do have something to share tho.  YAY!!  hahaha!

Today for Lilo's Fun Friday #30, I'm popping in to share a special birthday wish for Lollipop DT gal Cyndi Kim!  Head on over to the Lollipop Crafts blog to see who's sharing this special wish and then jump on over to Cyndi's blog to wish her a Happy Birthday.

I know Cyndi's been missing Hawaii since she moved to Las Vegas so I wanted to give her a card that brings a little bit of the island to her.  I chose one of my favorite TGF stamps, Fleur Anya, then picked some really fun island print papers from Sandy Lion as well as some floral punches to embellish.

I can't believe I waited this long to post this card!  I actually made this at the beginning of the month was debating on whether to send it out or keep it.  But I knew I wanted it to go to Cyndi as soon as the last flower was glued on.  Doesn't she make you smile?

With this picture I wanted to show the white embossing that I did on the edges of the blue paper to give it not only a nice texture but a waterlike feel.  This is super easy to do.  I took a white pigment ink pad and using the sides of the blue paper edged it.  Once I was satisfied with the amount I sprinkled clear embossing powder on top and heat set it with my heat gun.  I also did the same to the 5-petal flowers.

Well Cyndi, I wish you all the best on your birthday my friend.  Lots of hugs, and hope you get to eat some ono grinds.  Many blessings!!  Hau' oli la Hanau!!

I found a couple challenges I could add this to:
TGF Retro Fresh Challenge - Sunshine & Summer
ATS Challenge - Embossing

Mahalo to you for stopping by.  Have a fantastic weekend!!

Hugs,
Lilo

FBW #186 Anything Goes!

Happy Wednesday!!
Are you ready for a new challenge with the Flutter By Wednesday team?  Well it's everyone's favorite, Anything Goes!  For some awesome inspiration from the DT and details about this week's challenge head on over to the FBW blog.

Today I am sharing an easel card/calendar I made using the cute Rainbow Dreams Pixie from Tiddly Inks.  First let's start out with the front of the card.  I used one of my favorite WRM dp.  I punched some white clouds (Fiskars) and used Copics to color the image and clouds.  O look, there's a butterfly who wanted to be in the picture!  She's also colored with a Copic marker and decorated with cream Viva pearl pen dots.  ;)

Here are a couple pictures of the opened easel card/calendar.  I used some of the same dp to mat the calendar which was part of a RAK I received from my LPC sista, Cyndi.  :)

Front View

Side View

 Alrighty, if you're ready to play along all you have to do is make sure you use a fairy, butterfly or angel in your project and link up with us HERE.

Mahalo for stopping by!!  Have a great day!  :)

Challenges:  Tiddly Inks #68 - Color challenge

Hugs,
Leanne

Supplies not listed above:
Corner rounder punch (Fiskars)
Martha Stewart butterfly punch
White Neenah cs

Lollipop Crafts - We're baaack!!

Hehehe, yes, we are back from our holiday vacay and everyone is ready to start off 2012 with a "New" challenge.  We want to thank all the Lollipopers for their wonderful December submissions.  Hoping you are all ready to get back to challenges with us.  For today's challenge (#62) it's everyone's favorite, Anything goes!  The theme is "New."  Create a project using something "new" - new technique, supplies, etc.. or "New" in general - New Year, new baby, etc...  Be sure to head on over to the Lollipop Crafts blog because both Teams are playing today.  You'll also find all the details on the challenge including the prize up for grabs.

For my "new" project I decided to case my fellow DT, Cyndi Kim.  She makes some really cute coaster calendars and I was lucky enough to receive one of them.  I just love how CAS it is.  Some really pretty paper and a cute colored image.  That's it and voila!

She also sent me some extra calendars so I decided this is something new, so why not try it?  It was super easy and these little calendars are awesome gifts, I mean who can say no to something that cute and it's functional.  Everyone needs a calendar right?!  hehehe...

Here's my calendar version using a "new" stamp that I bought from ATS, Gorjuss Girls New Heights.  I did alter her a bit because I wanted it to be a carefree little girl who looks like she's celebrating by dancing on top of the calendar.  Sorta like she's celebrating the new year.  lol...  Well at least that's what my plan was.

It's a bit bigger than the one Cyndi made but still with the same elements.  I used some chipboard as the backing and adhered the dp over the top.  Rounded the corners and added some glass dots to the corners.  I also rounded the corners on the calendar to make it flow.  I paper pieced the main part of her dress and colored the rest with a Copic marker.  The rest of her is also colored with Copics.  I added a punched flower to her hair, it covers the heart barrett underneath it.  Doesn't she look carefree and ready to dance?  hehehe..  Oh yes, I also added her mouth, thought it would look cuter if she was smiling.  hehehe.  Now the only thing that isn't new here are the glass dots.  The dp papers are from Cosmo Cricket's, Clementine that I purchased from ATS, looks like they ran out. 

So let's see, new image, dp, calendar, project, I think this more than qualifies for our challenge.  :)

Here's our calendars side-by-side.  I think I case'd it pretty well, yea?  I forsee myself creating a few more as she gifted me with 4 more calendars.  She's so generous!  Mahalo Cyndi!!  :)

Now it's time to create!  Remember it's anything goes and the theme is "NEW."  We hope you're as excited as we are to be back and ready to take on 2012!

Mahalo for stopping by!!  Have a wonderful day!!
Hugs,
Leanne

Supplies/Copics: