One more stitching...

 Ok...so even though I've been (mostly) awake since 3:30 this morning (thanks Jack!) I did manage to get another project done (Jack has slept less than 2 hours of that time!!) Remember back in October when I was Kim's Fab Friend and I made the coffee cup sleeve? Well, some friends saw it and wanted one...so I had to make more.

 For this one, I used this fabulous turquoise felt from MFT, and I cut one end using the Perfect Bracket Edge Die-Namic die, then backstitched the 2 ends together with grey embroidery floss. I cut several snowflakes from some white felt using the Let it Snowflake dienamic and adhered them to the felt. Then, I stitched some buttons into the snowflakes.

Next, I made a matching tag. I used some label nesties to cut out my taken with Teal base, then a smaller one to cut out the fun dp that's layered on top. I colored and cut out Flurry of Love PI girl and adhered her to the tag. I wanted to add some stitching to the tag also, but didn't have the patience for more hand stitching, so I faux stitched all around the outside by piercing then adding the lines with a silver Spica pen. Lastly, I added one more felt snowflake to teh top of the tag using a snowflake brad which I also used to hold the ribbon on with, and added the sentiment. I know my friend will really like this!!

MFT stitching it up!

This month's Guest Designer Contest for MFT is to Stitch it Up. I'm not so handy with my sewing machine latelly, but I can still stitch by hand pretty well. I actually had another idea for this challenge, but NO TIME to complete it unfortunately, however I still like this one!!

I used my Lil' Pumpkin PI girl and decided to quilt her pumpkin.So, I first stamped it on some dp, then turned it over on top of a few layers of felt and using my dry embossing stylus, stretched the paper a bit. Then, I added some dimensionals under the pumpkin to adhere it down (after coloring her and paper piecing her dress). Lastly, I paper pierced along the lines of the pumpkin and back-stitched with some brown floss. I layered her on a nestied really rust scalloped rectangle, then worked on finishing up the card base.

I hand stitched the retired SU! dsp to some soft sage cardstock using more brown floss, then added the more mustard strip with some chocolate chip ruffled ribbon on top. I cut out the half circle pieces with my rounded banner trio die-namics die, then stamped the sentiment one word at a time to fit. And hey..this qualifies for the wednesday stamp club too...how bout that?? ;-)

Monday Whatnots from Paper Pretties...What's not to love?!

Good morning everyone, have we all recovered from our eating (and spending) splurges?? Not sure I have yet, but I'm getting there!

Here's a quick card I made with one of this week's Monday Whatnot digi images from Paper Pretties and ARTish. I really loved this cute little Poodle with her cupcake, and thought I could make a quick birthday card for one of Jackson's "girlfriends" (yes, he has 2 already - one younger and one older!) She's turning 3 soon, and so will no longer be in Jackson's early intervention program. Just means we have to schedule playdates now so they don't loose touch!

I colored Poodilicious Party in with my copics, and then added some sparkle to the sprinkles with some stickles. I used some paper that was sitting out on my desk from an old SU! Simply Scrappin' Kit, along with some Bazzill ribbon and glimmer pebbles from MFT.

Be sure to go check out both of this week's digital releases, and if you haven't seen all the others, check them out too! I'll be back later today with another post...today is my BLOGAVERSARY, and I've got some great treats for YOU!

Happy Thanksgiving, now on to Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you're all sitting down and taking a rest after wrangling that bird into the oven. Goodness...I hope I'm doing that!! Since I'm sure we're all super busy today, here's a quick card featuring the adorable Santa Marci!

I used this week's sketch challenge from Mercy along with some Candy Cane Lane DSP from SU! to create this large 5" by 7" card. I colored Marci with my copics, then added some texture to her outfit with my polar white flower soft. (I need me some white sparkly fluff!)

Now go baste your bird, and have a FABULOUS Thanksgiving day. And if you're not here in the U.S.? Eat some turkey anyway! :-)

PWC129 Keep it clean, and simple!

This week's Paper Pretties Weekly Challenge was to make a Clean and Simple card - right up my ally!! I used this adorable Sledding Cooper to create my card.

I used some fun SU! snow dsp for my card, then just added ribbon and the little snowflake to perk it up. I cut Cooper out with a long rectangle nestie. I added the sentiment on as a little flag.

We'd love for you to play along with us. Please head on over to the Paper Pretties blog to see all this week's creations, and to link up your entry for our clean and simple challenge this week! You don't have to use Paper Pretties stamps to win, but you will get an extra entry into the random drawing if you do!! You could win a great stamp set...so play along!!

Plus this week we are having a Thanksgiving Day Sale! Just use the coupon code GIVETHANKS and receive 15% OFF your entire purchase!

MFT WSC

I got to play along again this week with the My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club. This week, we were to derive inspiration from the song My Favorite Things from the Sound of Music. In our household, that is a favorite family movie. In fact, it's one of the few movies Julia is comfortable watching because there are almost no scary parts (especially if the movie stops at the wedding scene!!) So needless to say, I know the song well!

I decided to go for Silver White Winters and use my brand new Inspired By - Winter stamp set. I stamped the cabin, then masked it to stamp the trees. I then cut some rolling hills to mask, then stamped and embossed the moon and stars. I brayered on the night sky, then removed my mask and colored the cabin with my copics. I stamped the sentiment, then added some sparkle to the edges of "hills" and along the roof lines with my quickie glue pen and some Glitzy Glitter.

I finished off the inside with some more trees , but left plenty of room to write a nice note. This is such a great generic card, you cold use it for almost anything! Have a great day everyone...we're off to visit Santa! :-)

Happy Birthday ARTish!

Today the Prettie Girls are hopping with joy to celebrate our newest artist, ARTish's birthday! She's our new digi-stamp designer that makes these adorable images I've been showing you lately on Mondays! So this week, we've got a special release for digi stamps on SUNDAY to celebrate her birthday!! If you didn't arrive here from Jackie's blog, head on back to Cindy's blog to start at the beginning!

I've made a card with this adorable new birthday image, Birthday Balloons for You. Isn't this kitty with his big balloon bouquet adorable?? I decided to paper piece the balloons with paper from my basic grey bittersweet pack. (the same paper I used on the rest of the card!)

I colored in the kitty's nose and added some sharing with my copics, then added some wide grosgrain ribbon and a sentiment from the Celebrate Sophia set to finish off the card.

Now keep on hoppin' to the super talented Jessica's blog to see what she's got for us today, and don't forget to stop by ARTish's blog at the end to leave her some birthday love!!

Super Sale EXTENDED!!!

SALE EXTENDED!!! We had such a great response to our "Friday BEFORE Black Friday SALE" that we decided to extend it throughout the weekend, until 11 PM PST on SUNDAY!!! If you didn't get the opportunity to shop our sale on Friday, here is your second chance!!!!





Now's a fabulous oppportunity to stock up on some of the super cute Marci and Luka stamps at La-La Land Crafts!!  It's the "Friday before Black Friday ONE-DAY SALE" at La-La Land Crafts TODAY!  20 % OFF ALL Marci and Luka Collection stamps, including panda and all the newest sets (*digis excluded). Sale price will not be visible on the website, but will be reflected in your Shopping Cart.

Bellarific Friday - a holiday sketch card!

It's Bellarific Friday again, and I got a chance to stamp today during naptime. WOOHOO! This week's challenge was a sketch again, which I love!!

I used the fabulous Cutesy Ornament stamp from several years ago and colored it with my copics (I used W00, 1, 3, 5 and 7 and R00, 22, 27, 29 and 39 and N3 and 6 for the silver holders). After cutting it out with my long rectangle nesties, I also embossed it, then sponged on some sahara sand ink to match my papers. I used some Christmas dsp from SU! last year, and liked the muted tones of these snowflake papers. After adding the ribbon and getting the card all put together, I covered the red parts of the ornaments with my sakura glaze pen to give it a little shine!

I finished off the inside too, using some more dsp, the faux crocheted edge dienamic die from MFT, and a sentiment from a new SU! set.

Have a wonderful Friday everyone!!

SUPER SALE!!!

Now's a fabulous oppportunity to stock up on some of the super cute Marci and Luka stamps at La-La Land Crafts!!  It's the "Friday before Black Friday ONE-DAY SALE" at La-La Land Crafts TODAY!  20 % OFF ALL Marci and Luka Collection stamps, including panda and all the newest sets (*digis excluded). Sale price will not be visible on the website, but will be reflected in your Shopping Cart.

TCP Challenge with a NEW TCP Stamp!

On Sunday last week, I had the pleasure of stamping with Alma herself at the trunk show she was hosting at my LSS (Memories Live On in Cupertino, CA!) She had created this adorable make and take with the Ski Bunny set...and she had some of the BRAND NEW UNRELEASED sets there for sale! Well...I snatched up this adorable little bear...because I love one of the sentiments with it. Of course...I'm waiting until later this weekend to see if I can do the card I originally came up with when I saw this set (GO BEARS!!)

For this card, I used the inspiration piece for this week's TCP Tuesday 135 Challenge, this cool chair with a neat pattern to it. When I saw the chair, I immediately thought of this paper from Nana's Nursery Boy collection by DCWV. I built my card from there using this week's Mercy sketch MTSC100.

I paper pieced this adorable bear's ears and foot pads, but otherwise just added a tiny bit of shading with my C1 copic marker. I added some pleated white satin ribbon from MFT with a bit of white narrow grosgrain from SU! over the stitching. I then finished him off with a sparkly snowflake and felt snowflake along with the sentiment stamped on a little banner. Super fun card!! And now another company to add to my obsessions list...YIKES!

A Scrapbook Page by ME?? WOW!

Before I get to my project, I have some exciting news for you all - LaLa Land is having a HUGE sale TOMORROW, the Friday BEFORE Black Friday! So be sure to come back to the blog, or straight to the LaLa Land Boutique midnight tonight (Pacific Standard Time!) to check it out!

I have to admit, I don't often scrapbook with paper anymore having switched over to digital scrapbooking recently, but when I sat down to work with the newest Marci and Luka images (only available digi right now, but rubber is coming SOON) all I could picture is this photo of my parents taken over 50 years ago when they were in high school and going to a formal dance. Of course, no one can FIND the photo now...but as soon as I do I'll be scanning it in to fit onto this page!

Since I know the photos is black and white, I wanted those to be the primary colors on the page. However, I also know that my mom's dress was blue, so I wanted to add a touch of blue. I thought marina mist would work well.

I used some new SU! dsp for the base of the page, then I created my photo layer (the vanilla) with the 2 mats (black and marina mist) and I put those on top of the Marina Mist satin ribbon layered under the lace. I added the satin bow on top (along wtih a little extra narrow vanilla grosgrain) and then added the rhinestone accent as well.

I made the roses for the corner of the photo using the MFT rolled rose dienamics die and some vanilla and marinna mist cs that was sponged. I added some cream pearls to the centers, then adhered them around the upper left corner.

For my stamped images, I printed them on vanilla cs and colored them with my W00, 01, 03, 05 and 07 markers. Then I added just a touch of blue (b93) to both Marci and Luka (see if you can spot his, it's pretty small!) I cut them both out and then created ovals for them using more dsp layered on some Marina Mist cs. Don't Marci and Luka look adorable all dressed up for their prom?

I hope you've enjoyed this...I promise I"ll post an updated version once I get the photo onto this page, and mount it in a frame for my folks. Perhaps it can be their 49th wedding anniversary present in February! (sh...don't tell them, and stop reading mom!)

PWC128: Thanks!

I'm back again with a Pretties Weekly Challenge for you all...make a Thank You card! Super simple, right? We ALL need thank you cards, and unfortunately I don't give them out nearly enough! So, here's a card I made for Julia's teacher using Thank You Teacher Sophia.

For my layout, I used this week's Sketch for you to Try from Jen Del Muro. I loved having all these panels to use different patterend papers! I used my Cosmo Cricket Early Bird paper, and pieced Sophia's top, pants and lunch bag. I of course had already stamped her twice onto my Perfect Panel cs so that I could add the backpack straps, apple and her hair on top of the pieced shirt! Everything was colored with copcis, I even added some shading to the pieced pieces with my W1 and 3 markers.

As has become my general habit, I finished off the inside too. I used some of this great May Arts Olive Green rikrak from the Prettie Boutique on both the inside and the front - doesn't it match perfectly? I also used some more of the patterned paper, and a sentiment from a new MFT set, Simply Sentimental about Teachers.

We'd love to have you play along with us Prettie Girls, so upload your thank you card to the Paper Pretties blog for your chance to win some great stamps! You don't have to use Prettie stamps, but if you do you'll get an extra entry into the drawing...good luck!

MFT WSC using a TCP sketch!

Enough acronyms for ya?? What that all means is I have a My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club project for you, and I used this week's The Cat's Pajamas sketch for it! Phew!

I had tons of fun making this card. The challenge this week from MFT was to Cook up some Love! And what is more loving that cupcakes?? Joline just baked this giant cupcake for her friend's birthday, and she's very proud!

I colored Joline in using my copics, and paired her with some great My Mind's Eye papers. I added some pink stickles to the sprinkles on the cupcake, and sponged around the edges some to soften it. I also cut out a rolled rose with my new dienamic die (LOVE them!!) to add to the card.

For the inside, I used some white cardstock cut with the top note die, some more patterned paper, and one of the adorable sentiments that comes with this great set! Have a wonderful day!!

Monday Whatnots...

I'm back this week with another Monday Whatnot...What's Not to Love? from Paper Pretties. These new digital images from Artish are just amazing, and so fun to play with!

This week I'm using Claus the Dog, and he's all decked out for Christmas! When I first saw this, I knew I had to color this little doggie black, since that's the color of our shaggy pooch.

I colored Claus with my copics markers, added some polar white flower soft to his hat, and used some Basic Grey Eskimo kisses and this past week's Mercy sketch (MTSC99) for the layout. The card actually came together quite quickly, which is good since it was 12:30 in the morning when I started! Of course, it seems lately if I want to get some time it's got to be the middle of the night!! Oh well!

Be sure to go check out all of this week's new Digital Releases from Paper Pretties, there are some ADORABLE new baby images to be had!!

Totally Awesome Paper Pretties release hop!

It's time for a super fun, totally radical Paper Pretties new release blog hop. We've got a few guest designers this month - you should have arrived here from the amazing Shemaine Smith - and therefore tons of great samples for you today! Head on back to the Paper Pretties blog if you didn't start there so you don't miss any of these amazing projects today (plus you can check to see if you won any of the sets before going to place your order!!)!!

I get to share with you a card I made using the new Skater Zak! Isn't he fabulous?? I love this new teen scene line Heather started, perfect for those older kids who don't like to think of themselves as kids so much anymore! Zak here looks totally absorbed with his board, and I just know my little friend Nico is going to LOVE this one! I'll save it all the way until June for his birthday! I used Taylor's Friday sketch #133 from LAST week, because it was such a great layout, and the colors came from the Color Throwdown #117.

I used some notebook paper from my SU! Newsprint DSP, and punched it with the spiral notebook punch. On my crumb cake layer, I stamped the word COOL from among the great sentiments in this set in the same color ink all over the paper to make my own dp. Zak was of course colored with copics, and then I sponged all around with some creamy caramel ink. Lastly, I made the little brads up the side with black brads, and some circle punches of coordinating cardstock.

I finished off the inside with the Happy Birthday sentiment stamped on some more notebook paper and punched with the spiral notebook punch. A quick and simple inside, but it adds so much to finish it off!!

Now keep on hoppin' to Carolyn King (The Camster's) blog next to see what magic she's performed with the adorable new Get Well Fairy Violet.

Merry Christmas Marci!

I love versatile stamps!!! This adorable Birthday Marci works great for Christmas too...just using Christmas colors!!!

For my card today I used the Sweet Sunday sketch from Karen Giron. I really loved her sample and wanted to come up with some interested way to make the scalloped square. My order from MFT had just arrived with this fabulous new Faux Crocheted border die namics die, so I thought that might work. I cut out 4 of them, then linged them up on a cutting mat to make the size square I wanted, then I just cut the corners (mitered them you could say) to line them up. Worked pretty well!!

I colored Marci with my copics, and then paper pieced her present with the opposite side of the dp I used for the center square (adding the ribbon on top which had been stamped and cut from more white cs. I added some seam binding ribbon and an antique brad to finish off the sketch!!

Don't forget to share your LaLa Land Crafts projects with us! Link up your projects using any LLLC stamps here on the blog and YOU could be our customer of the month, and win ANY stamp from our store!!!

PWC127 and Happy Birthday Jennifer!

Today is not only a Prettie Peek day, not only a Prettie Wednesday Challenge Day, but most importantly, it is Prettie Girl Jennifer's birthday!!! We're all hopping along this week with some Birthday Wishes for Jennifer, and hope you'll join us! The hop started at the Paper Pretties Blog, so if you didn't arrive here from Jackie, be sure to head on back!

This week's challenge was to emboss on a card. It wasn't specific as to dry or wet embossing, so I went for both! The stamp set is this fabulous new Everyday Greetings, which will be released along with 7 other sets this Friday. I used 2 stamps from the set...first the circle with flowers in it (stamped in Cherry Cobbler ink on a very vanilla circle) and the sentiment is also from the set. There are 9 fabulous and versatile sentiments included with this set - so plenty to meet your every day greeting needs!

I did the faux diamonds technique on my stamped vanilla circle and embossed it with Irridescent Ice embossing powder. I love this look on vanilla, it gets such a sparkly golden look! I dry embossed the black square underneath, and for my papers I used the SU! Love Letter dsp. And, the layout is this week's Mojo Monday sketch #164.

Now be sure to keep on hopping to see what Jane has come up with for Jennifer's birthday, and please leave Jennifer some birthday love at the end of the hop! have a great day...and don't forget to leave  a comment on the Paper Pretties blog for your chance to win this set!

Paper Pretties is sponsoring CPS

So, not only do I have a sneak peek for you today of an ADORABLE new Sophia, but it's also using the latest CPS192 sketch. And because Paper Pretties is sponsoring the sketch this week, you'll have the opportunity to win some Paper Pretties stamps if you play along too!! To see ALL of today's adorable cards, be sure to visit the Paper Pretties blog...there are some great ones!

Thanks Snow Much Sophia is another of my favorites (and I have to admit I have several!!) She just looks so joyful playing in the snow! For this card, I stamped her on kraft cardstock and colored her with my copics. I thought it would give the card a more vintage feel to use the kraft. I also sponged some white ink around the edges of the kraft to add to the snowy feel of the card, as well as adding some liquid applique.

I took a few liberties with the sketch, and instead of adding rings to the side, I added snowflakes! I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend...and be sure to keep checking the Paper Pretties blog all week for more sneak peeks, with the release coming on Friday! WOOHOO!

RAWR - Happy Birthday!

This week I got a chance to play along with the MFT Wednesday stamp club...and since it's the first Wednesday of the month it's a sketch, this month from Frances! Imagine that, 2 great sketches from Frances in one week!! :-)

I wanted to make a cute birthday card for the young son of a very good friend of mine, so I pulled out my as yet uninked Little Loveasaurus and got busy. I colored him with my copics, then used the colorless blender to create a little extra texture. For my designer paper I used my All About Boys mat stack from DCWV

I cut out the small cloud with my die-namics cloud die and stamped the RAWR on it...then stamped Happy Birthday on a strip of paper and trimmed the ends to make a banner. A nice simple card, but oh so fun to make!

Prettie Peek Surprise!

Happy Friday everyone! Today we've got a great sneak peek of a new set coming out in one week! There are 8 fabulous new sets coming out this month, and this is the first peek. Surprise Sophia is our latest Sophia sweetheart all ready to head to a birthday party.

For my layout I used this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge from Karen Giron. I loved this layout, perfect for this little sweetie!

I pulled out my Nana's Kids paper to use with her, and stamped her twice on white and once on the polka dot paper. I colored in Sophia with my copics. After piecing her dress, I also colored and cut out her arms and present to put on top of the dress.

I finished off the inside with another of the sentiments included in this fabulous set, and another strip of the dp from the front. Be sure to head over to the Paper Pretties blog to see all the samples using Surprise Sophia. And keep checking the blog all week long for more peeks!