A little birdie told me

Hello!!

Hope you all had a great weekend!  I spent it with my family as we celebrated my dad's birthday.  We had Japanese food for dinner at his favorite restaurant and for dessert, German chocolate cake with ice-cream.  We were all in serious food coma trying to watch the NCAA men's basketball tournament after all of that good food.  LOL!  I'll share some pictures at the end of this post.

Yesterday I met up with Kathy & Linda and their friend Belia for a little craft session.  We each created a card (Anything Goes) and then made a set for everyone to put together themselves.  I was going to do something really CAS, but Kathy had requested something with clouds so this is what I came up with...

I had to look for an outdoor themed stamp and flipped through my stamps.  This little one popped up and I knew how I wanted to use her.  I created a bright Spring time scene with some fun dies, bright fun colored papers and my Copics.  Let's see I used some MFT, La-La Land Crafts, Fiskars and CC Designs cutter dies for this card.  It took me some time to get the grass the way I wanted it, I really needed a lawn mower!  hahaha!  I finally got it to look as close to how I wanted it without ripping it out entirely. hehe!  I even did something on the inside...

I left it blank for now, well except for the scene at the bottom.  Thinking I could write just about anything on the inside, so for now it's just a scene and yay another card to add to my stash!

My friend Karen from Have a Scrap Happy Day (Hi Karen!) loves to post pictures of ono looking food.  I thought I would do the same...  I realized that although I took pictures of everyone's food, I forgot to take a picture of mine!! hahaha!  So I'll share what everyone else had...  First up is a teriyaki salmon with tempura.

Next up is another teriyaki salmon dish but with sashimi, that's raw fish for those of you that don't know what that is.

Here's more sashimi: salmon, tuna and I think yellowtail.

Last was the chicken teriyaki and tempura boat.  Well I call it a dinghy because the portions shrunk down and there is a lot of food missing, too bad the price sure didn't!  (lol)

And here's my dad, he's so cute when we started to sing, he started singing too.  I guess he likes his voice more better than ours.  LOL!  The cake was his favorite, German chocolate and we paired it with pistachio ice-cream, another favorite of his.

My dad doesn't like any fuss, but we always try to make it nice for him.  I know he appreciates it as much as we love and appreciate him.

Well it's a work night so I better get to bed, the morning will be here way too soon!  Have a terrific Monday everyone and as always thanks for stopping by!

Little Red

Good morning!

So I didn't get a chance to go shopping yesterday even though I left work early, I was too tired.  How about you?  Did you find any good sales?  Share!  (hahaha)

Today I thought I'd finally share this altered fan I sent to another swap partner in October.  I know she's already received it so it's now ok for me to share here.  I made something similar (HERE) but different for another swap buddy using two Sister Stamps, this time I decided to use one of my Gorjuss Girl images and included the fan.

The image is called Little Red.  After I colored her with my Copics, I "fun" (not fussy) cut her out.  Read all about "fun"(not fussy) cutting over on Karen's blog.  It looks like she and I are the only ones who like to do this. hahaha...  The patterned paper is from DCWV and I loved it because Little Red honestly looks like she's tip-toeing through a garden.  I added some white daisy ribbon around the edges, some gems, a mini calendar, a wooden butterfly, that huge fabric flower and more lace trim to cover up the handle.  I also added some leaf stick pins and a Prima zipper pull.  Here are a few close-ups...

My partner should be able to hang this up.  Right above the second leaf pin there is a slot that a hook could fit through.  Once the calendar is done she can remove it and add another mini calendar for next year or a picture.  It's pretty functional.  I definitely enjoyed putting this one together.  The key to this project was having the right patterned paper and enough patience to put it all together.  Once you get started everything sorta flows, it's getting started that's the hard part.  I'm happy my swap partner liked this.

Well that's all for now.  I hope you have an awesome day and if you can, go out and support your local small businesses.  I plan to do some of that myself.  Until next time, thank you for stopping by! 

Hello Gorjuss!

Hello everyone!!

Ahhh, it's that time of the month... Oh puhleeze, I meant closing week here at work!! hahaha!!  It's the reason why I've been a little behind on posting.  I do have something to share today so I'm popping it in...  Might be a short post with lots of pictures...  Those are the best kinds right?!!

Stamped image: Gorjuss Girl Poppy Wood

Cut out sentiments: Little B
Embossing folder: Sizzix
Daisy flower ribbon: Daiso
Oval die: Spellbinders
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

And there you have it! hahaha!!  I'm thinking these could be used for any occasion including Christmas!!  =D  

Ok, breaks over, hope you're all having a nice Thursday.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Stop by tomorrow for a new challenge at Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday Challenge...  Hugs!!

Happy Mother's Day

Hello and to those celebrating today... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!  Hoping you all have a lovely day spending time with your families. :)

I'm going to make this short because my mom and I are heading out to the movies and lunch. 

Here's the card I made her using one of the new Gorjuss girl stamps I grabbed from All That Scraps.  Used papers from an MME 6x6 "Happier" paper pad.

 I found this layout on Kim's blog and thought it was pretty awesome because of all the layers.  I added the doily, but otherwise the layout is the same.  I love this Gorjuss image!  She reminds me of me as a little girl coloring with my crayons and making my mom a MD card.  I pulled the colors from the dp, going bright and springy.  If you look real close I added MOM to the bottom of her card.  The sentiment stamp is from a Hero Arts (Majestic circles) set. 

Alright, time to head out.  Mahalo for stopping by today.  Wishing all the mothers a lovely day and that also includes those of you who don't have kids, but have pets, your their mamas too.  :)


Hugs,
Leanne

Hey you!

Hello!! 
Yes today is my second post, please scroll down to see my Lollipop Crafts challenge post.

As you are reading this, I should be celebrating Renate's birthday with her, Zach and a few of our close friends at Gyu-Kaku in Old Town Pasadena.  I made her a card using one of her favorite stamp lines, Gorjuss Girls.  I used Rose, who I purchased along with a few others, from All That Scraps.  The dp was from the same paper pad stack (DCWV - The Rustic stack).  I love this paper pad and have been waiting to cut into it.  This was the perfect occasion.  I used a sketch from my blogging friend, Kim Yu to help me bring some fun elements to the card.

I am really pleased with how it turned out.  I wanted to go with a warm color palette and I think I achieved it with the yellows, blues, browns and oranges and touches of white.  What do you think? 

I paper pieced her dress and did some fun affects to it.  Yes, I used a couple Copic markers to add the folds but if you look closely you might be able to see that I added dimension to the dress.  No?  Well here are a couple side views...

Where the folds are drawn in I used a hockey stick embossing tool
to create the folds on the paper to make the dress look and feel
more pronounced.

Here's a better angle.  See how the paper dips where the "folds"
lay?  I also layered it twice (only because I ripped the first one
while trying to work the paper)  because it gave it more
dimension and poof once I added the second layer.  :) 

Side view of the finished card

Here is a close up of the other side of the card.  Thought you'd like to see the details.  :)

I used several Spellbinder dies for this card.  Love how handy they are and how clean they can make a card look.  My first time making those circle flowers.  I used a couple SB circles and my hockey stick again.  Added a nice big half pearl to the center of each.  Love how it turned out.  I wonder if this is what is called shabby chic?  If so then it's my first time and I'm so pleased with the result.  woo hoo!  Alrighty, time for me to scoot.  Hopefully we are enjoying our meal and Renate is enjoying her birthday dinner.  :)

The Voice and Hawaii 5-O are on my lists to watch tonight.  Hoping to get home to watch at least H5O.  On a sad note, just wanted to say RIP Whitney Houston.  You are going to be missed, but never forgotten.

Challenges:
ATS Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes

Hugs,
Leanne

Supplies not listed above:
White cs (Neenah solar crest, Xpress It); Light blue cs (Bazzil); Square/scalloped square & circle dies (Spellbinders); doily (Joann's); lace (May Arts scrap from CHA);  butterflies (MS punch); half pearls (Recollections)
Copics:

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:

Hey girly...

Popping in for a quick post.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday.  :)

I wanted to share this birthday card I made for my friend Kathy, she is my crafty buddy at work and we have such good fun giving each other ideas and enabling each other.  She always says I get her in to trouble because I always have too many cute things to share.  Well I say sharing is caring and we just laugh about it.  I wanted to give her a different kind of card with a stamp she's never seen before.  I personally have never inked one up, but I have to say, I loved coloring this one.  I was really tempted to keep her for myself!  But I didn't want to stay up all night to color something else.

This is my very first Gorjuss Girl that I inked up and colored.  I love how she turned out.  I used my favorite colors, blues and greens with a touch of brown.  I know, that I've never really used this color combo, but these are three of my favorite colors.  I also did a simple background of clouds and a little bit of green around her feet to represent grass.  I believe this is a gatefold card, and one that I sorta struggled with as you can see by the bow.  I think I tied it 20x before I got this result.  It's still not one that I love but it's the last one that looked the best.  The dp worked perfectly with my color scheme and I didn't need too many more embellies except for the sweet sentiment, (another AmyR). 

Let's take a peek of the inside of the card.  Sorry the photo is blurry!  I also wiped out my message to her.  I forgot to take a picture before writing in it.  The sentiment is of course another AmyR sentiment, and there is that Gorjuss girl again.  :)

I think this counts in the weekly challenge at Mad for Markers which is favorite Copic color combos.  It will be fun to play in a challenge. 

Alrighty, that's all I have for today.  I'm hoping to share some other projects I've been working on, and especially wanted to share my wonderful birthday cards and goodies I received from some really lovely friends and family.  We shall see how the next few days and nights go.   Have a lovely Tuesday night my friends!
Hugs,
Leanne

Card recipe: Gate Fold
Stamps: Sentiments by AmyR (C.C. Designs); Gorjuss Waiting (Gorjuss Girl) - Purchased via All That Scraps
Dark brown & white cs (Neenah)
Patterned paper: K&Company
Spellbinders: Mega Oval & Mega Scallop oval
Ribbons: Random scraps (unknown)
Black tuxedo & rich cocoa (Memento inks), tumbled glass & peeled paint (Distress Inks)
Copics:
Hair: E70, 71, 74, 77, 79
Outfit: YG01, 03, 06, B000, 00, 01, E70, 71
Skin: E01, 11, 50, 51,