Sunday, January 30, 2011

New Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker collection - It's Raining

I LOVE CHA time. I love the excitement of new collections and supplies. I love working with a manufacturer and getting to work with some of those new supplies.  In this post, I want to share a few goodies.  Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker introduced a few new collections at this winter CHA and one of my favorite is the It's Raining collection. 

Some of the patterns in this collection are directly related to a "raining" theme and then there are a few prints that will go with any theme. If this little turtle just the cutest accent?

I did little accents to the dots on the umbrella with Aleene's Paper Glaze.  The prints on this card are from the sheets of the mini patterns. Instead of little pads of papers for this release, she created pages that are a mixture of the prints, just smaller. I love the smaller prints for cards. 
This is a 12" x 12" layout using this same collection.

The little turtle is part of the scallop paper piece so it was easy to make him part of my layout.



I used Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker self adhesive buttons to accent the little flowers that are in each corner of this piece of patterned paper.  The buttons look like they have thread already in them and the adhesive back makes them a breeze to use. 

I'll be sharing more of her new releases in another post.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Unscripted sketches and Lots of Core'dination ideas

Another Saturday and time for another Unscripted sketch.  Be sure to check it out so you can play along.
I just picked up a little patterned paper pad by K&Co so I picked out one of the papers in that for my card.  The pink plaid has a metallic look to it.
I used one of my Waltzing Mouse label stamps and then filled that with these wonderful flower stickers by Sticko. 
I wanted to share this layout with you too. Core'dinations is releasing an 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock program so this is a layout I created for CHA.  If you scrap in that size, you should be pretty happy to hear this size will be available but it is also a great size for cards since all you have to do is cut a piece of paper in half and you have the base for two cards.  These papers were already available in Joann stores so if you have one of those around you, check them out. 
My design idea for this layout was to create little tags to fill my page. It turned out to be so fun to fill the little tags or spaces with lots of great Core'dinations techniques and little photos. 

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

SKETCH 91 – XOXO card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned Papers – Sweet Nectar Collection/K&Co.
Flower stickers - Sticko
Label Stamp – Waltzing Mouse
Spellbinder label Nestabilities die
Black Versafine stamp pad
Clear embossing powder
Border punch – Martha Stewart
Foam tape – 3M
Sandpaper

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Gotta share lots of Core goodness

Nothing beats the excitement that comes with the approaching reveals at CHA.  I don't even know how so many companies can keep coming out with all kinds of goodies we just have to have. It never fails that they amaze us. Let me tell you, Core'dinations cardstock has some serious goodies coming out.  There are two new pads of cardstock in colors that match colors that Tim Holtz works in.
And what makes these pads even more exciting is that you can win some. Go HERE and enter. You have until the 28th. 

I created a few projects to be shown in the Core'dinations booth to show off these colors.  This is a little paper birdhouse using all kinds of Tim Holtz supplies.  Distress Stamp pads, stamps, embossing folders and buttons. 
The roof is a great embossing folder and that is rubbed with a few different shades of Distress stamp pads with a foam Blending Pad.  I had not use one of these before but let me tell you, I am in love!
I just love this guy with the umbrella.  He is in a stamp set by Tim Holtz and I stamped him with Blue China Distress stamp pad and you can see the accent of Ranger Crackle medium on the umbrella. 
I also want to share my CPS card for this week. It just happens that I used all kinds of Core'dinations on it. 
The butterfly is cut from a piece of Jenni Bowlin Core Impressions, the black circles are Black Magic embossed with an embossing folder and sanded. The Black Magic has a color core, this one is a golden yellow.  The card base is cardstock from the Vintage collection and I added some score lines using my Martha Stewart Score Board. 
As usual, I also need to share some photos...
Our three grandsons were on a mission in our backyard last weekend. Their version is they were digging to China!!! Notice the dogs help.

We have a big play structure in our backyard and the dog has figured out how to climb all over of it. She has also discovered she can watch what the dog next door is doing from this perch! Too funny!

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Saturday, January 22, 2011

What do you say to a friend?

I want to share a couple cards that are perfect to send to a friend. Both use sketches for the inspiration.

The first one is this last weeks Card Postioning Systems sketch and Sweet n' Sassy stamps has been the sponsor. How totally adorable is this cutie? I want to use this one stamp over and over plus the set comes with a few different sentiments making it work for more then one occasion. 
I stamped the little mouse hiding behind the coffee cup on white cardstock.  I am loving the Copic paper, it is so white and velvety.  I colored portions of the image with Copic markers.  I stamped the image again on the red patterned paper, making sure I stamped the "band" portion and then cut that out and glued it to the cup.   His little ears have added sparkle with some Glitter 3-D Fashion paint by Tulip.
Notice the scallop, brown piece. That is Core Impressions. It is brown with embossed dots in it already and the core is read.  The green cardstock is also Core Impressions with that great embossed design in it already.
And, it is Saturday so I want to share this weeks Unscripted Sketch. 
I used a page from an old dictionary for part of my patterned paper. I loved the aged look that it added. 
Couldn't you just see this being perfect for sending a little something to a friend?  This is all one stamp, the plant and the sentiment.  It is by Art Warehouse stamps. The edge around this piece is aged with the Blending Foam and some Distress ink.  Something I wanted to try after watching Tim Holtz do some coloring that way. It is so soft looking.
And for a few photos...
Our next to the youngest grandson is playing basketball this year and so I just had to share a couple photos. 
He did such a great job for his first game of the season.
And now for our youngest grandson and a rite of passage to boyhood, a black eye! He had a crash with the kitchen stool and while he did cry, the result if pretty cute.
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

SKETCH 201 – LET’S DO COFFEE card

Materials:
Stamps – Courtesy of Sweet n Sassy
Cardstock – Core Impression and Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – We R Memory Keepers
Black Versafine Stamp pad
Clear embossing powder – Stampendous
Copic markers
Self adhesive rhinestones – Queen & Co.
Corner rounder punch – Papershapers
Glitter 3-D Fashion paint – Tulip
Sandpaper

SKETCH 90 – EVERY PASSING YEAR card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned Papers – Jillibean Soup and old dictionary page
Stamp – American Art Stamp
Distress stamp pad
Clear embossing powder
Copic markers
Self adhesive rhinestones – Mark Richards, Inc.
Foam tape – 3M
Tonic paper distresser
Inkssentials Blending Foam
Sandpaper

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Anything Flower Soft Blog Hop

Today is another Flower Soft blog hop and the design team members will be showing off a
few brand new Flower Soft products.
Start at the Flower Soft blog and then hop along to the team members blogs, leaving comments along the way.  You can also post at Splitcoast stampers for another chance to win.
The blog prize (and SCS prize) will be a each be a $50 gift certificate to shop at Flower Soft)

Comments and SCS challenge will stay open for until 6am February 4th.
The winners will be announced on the
Flower Soft blog on February 4th.

On my card, I used one of the brand new NEON Flower Soft colors! This adorable little elephant is part of a Charlie's Ark Creative Kit. The pieces in the kit come all colored and ready to use, they even punch out to make them even easier to use. How cute is NEON Green paint?
This view gives you a little close-up of the Neon Green Flower Soft and you can also get a better idea of how the Charlie's Ark kit works. It comes with punch out parts so that you can layer the images. It is a fun way to create a pretty cute card.

From my blog, hop on over to Cibele's blog for more inspiration.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Saturday, January 15, 2011

From Pink to Blue

Moxie Fab is hosting a color challenge with several combos to choose from to work with.  This challenge goes along with their new issue, Color Inspirations that looks just amazing.

I picked this one, hopefully I will have time to play with more of them before the deadline.
For the start of my card, I used a brand new background stamp by Stamp Camp, a company that is often at our stamp conventions.  I just stamped it with a black Versafine stamp pad and then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  Next I rubbed a few different stamp pads directly over the image. Of course, the embossed images resist the ink. I wanted to have my paper be a light pink on the one edge and then for the colors to progress to an coral/orange.  I used some sprays to help strengthen my colors.
The butterfly stamp is a brand new set by Inkadinkadoo. It is filled with butterflies that have different designs on them. I just need time to use all of them!!!  This was done in the same technique as my background and parts colors in the design were strengthened with Copic markers. 
This shows a little close-up of my punched border and the colors on the stamped image. Notice I used self adhesive rhinestones in pinks and orange to help with the progression of color.
It is that time of the week again to use a new Unscripted sketch. This week we were to also create a project with a maculine theme. That always seems to be a challenge for some reason.
The striped paper is by Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker from the Something for Everyone collection.  I though that was a great starting point.
Next, I picked up a couple scraps of some Core Impressions cardstocks that were sitting on my desk. They both went with the colors in my paper and had a masculine feel to them. Just a bit of sanding exposed the great embossed design that comes on them already.
Gotta share a few photos too...
More on our recent zoo trip. He loves to play with the big, cracked eggs that are in the play area.
He had so much fun on this rope design even if he did end up upside down!
And more on that tongue that seems to make the play even more fun.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Hot Chocolate and Lots of Love!

Gotta share a couple cards with you, this first one using this weeks Card Postioning Systems sketch. 

The sponsor this week is Flower Soft and since it is kind of cold here, this cup of Hot Chocolate looks like the perfect thing. 
The Hot Chocolate topper is by Flower Soft and then I accented it with some Flower Soft, making it look even more yummy.  The two colors of Flower Soft that I used are my new most favorite, Earth and Peony Pink. 
The card base is Core Impressions by Core'dinations. It has that great embossed design it in already and the side trim is new by Pink Paislee and makes for such an easy and elegant accent. 
This card is my Unscripted sketch card for this week and it represents by newest supply purchase from Emma's Paperie.  Yummy We R Memory Keepers papers and gotta love that "love" word sticker by KI Memories. 
Notice my little hearts on the side, red piece? I just picked that Cuttlebug embossing folder up at Michaels in their new Valentines supplies.  It works perfectly with Core'dinations cardstock.
And, of course, some photos to share...
We recently went to the Santa Barbara Zoo. We love this zoo, it is small and just the right size for a quick little visit. They have a artificial turf covered hill for the kids to slide down and here our youngest grandson is trying to get the hang of sliding. 
 Notice how the tongue seems to help with balance!
Big sissy is trying to give some helpful pointers. 
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

SKETCH 200 – HOT CHOCOLATE card
Materials:
Hot Chocolate Topper and Flower Soft – courtesy of Flower Soft
Tacky Glue - Aleene’s®
Cardstock – Core Impression /Core’dinations
Patterned paper – October Afternoon
Artisann Elements/Borders – Pink Paislee
Self adhesive pearls – Recollections
Corner rounder punch – Round-It-All
Glitter 3-D Fashion paint – Tulip
Foam tape – 3M
Sandpaper



SKETCH 88 – LOVE - BICYCLE card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned Papers and sticker – Be My Valentines collection/WeRMemory Keepers
Cuttlebug embossing folder
Glitter word – Scribbles/KI Memories
Scallop scissors
Sandpaper