The Future Belongs to Those Who Believe in The Beauty of Their Dreams

I love quotes. I think that they are so powerful and meaningful , so obviously when I saw Unity Stamp Co's new quote stamps, I bought them all. I mean, at 5$ a piece they spoke to me! Plus it was Hip Hop Thursday so they threw in a free clock stamp (pictured above). The background circles are from FontWorks. I stamped the circles in Ballet Blue and Eggplant Envy. The clock is in Chocolate Chip and Ballet Blue. The background is Lilac.

Are you as excited as I am for the Hanna Stamp sneak peaks? I hope so! Starting Monday I will be showing off some ADORABLE sets!!!!

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

You deserve a day sprinkled with fun!

As next week will be devoted to Hanna Stamps, I decided to do a little HS warm up with this Riley Stamp. I think Riley is just so adorable and he is so much fun to color. I colored him with: E00, E31, E33, E47, V01, R29, R27, YR21, BG10, BG13 and C1. The base of the card is Mellow Moss and I stamped my sentiment in matching ink. The Ribbon is from American Crafts, I actually found it for .75 cents a yard at a Gemstone's in Orlando. The sentiment and the cupcake stamp from the background are from Hero Arts (it's a clear set).

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

Little Paper Shop Release!

Yesterday was the big release and I am happy to report that you all seemed to love the stamps! Beautiful Things, Chirp and Peace(yay!) are all sold out. Thankfully, they should be back in stock by Tuesday so Julia has made them available for back order. As an incentive Julia is offering free shipping on orders over 20$ AND a free 3x4 set with a 50$ order!

I'll be back later with a card!
E

Friends are the family you choose yourself!

Every release I challenge myself to make a No Layer Card. It's sort of like a supply cleansing, just me, stamps, ink and a piece of white cardstock. While I am the first person to love busy cards (did you see my Rock Star card?), I think getting down to the bare bones of this hobby is just as special. So, I bring you this card. It's simple. It's chic. It's Taken with Teal, Rose Red and Elegant Eggplant. It's Little Paper Shop.

This set is aptly named 'Friends' and is a total classic. I especially love the sentiment, which totally speaks to this college girl who is 6 hours away from her family.

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

PS.
Tomorrow is the big release for LPS so make sure to check it out! Also Monday starts my Hanna Stamps previews which are (if I do say so myself) GORGEOUS!!!

Going in Circles

This set is perfect for me, especially the day before school starts! I have always subscribed to the theory that everything is a cycle. As bid day approaches (its actually tonight!), I find myself reminiscing about my college experience and I can tell you as I look at the excited freshman that everything has a reason and a place.

Enough with the philosophy and on to today's card. As aforementioned today's Little Paper Shop Sneak Peak is called 'Going in Circles'. This fun mini-set has so much sentiment potential. This card features it as a focal point. The colors look better in person IMHO, but this was the best picture I could take.

Happy Stamping,
Elyssa

PS! If you haven't subscribed to my blog yet, please do! It's very easy with the buttons on the side bar, plus with all the new LPS stamps I'm previewing this week and all the Hanna stamps next week, you're going to want to stay updated!!

Thinking of You

This particular set is called 'Beautiful Things'. It is LPS's first 2-Step Stampin' Set and let me tell you it is a dream to work with! I did a very simple scene for this card because I wanted to show off all of the different flowers featured in the set. I used the following stamping combos Pretty In Pink (stamped off)/Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise/Brilliant Blue, Liliac/Eggplant and Sage Shadow. I cut out the vase freehand and sponged it with Close to Coca. It's shadow is done in C1(copic). The ribbon is from American Crafts.

Ok, I'm off to take a 4 hour practice LSAT.

Elyssa Blair

Peace. Love. and Stamping

This set holds a lot of special meaning in it because I actually got my feet a little dirty in the creation of it! After inking up my very retired 'Groovy' set by Stampin' Up for the 100th time, I thought the world (and of course myself) needed another more updated Go Green/Peace set. My first thought was to contact Julia to ask her if she would consider making that type of set. Always the trend setter, Julia quickly responded with some sample images and asked me to help her think of some sentiments!!!!!!!

I was on cloud 9 for a while, dreaming up the capabilities of this set. I decided to show you guys a piece of altered art utilizing the set in a personal way. My sister, Ilana, has a wall of memorabilia, art and magazine clippings and she too is OBSESSED with peace signs. So I decided to make something for the wall. It is a take on Tim Holtz's August Challenge.


1) I took a piece of Tim Holtz's Fragments acrylic and cover with red alchohol ink
2) Select Peace Sign from 'Peace' set by Little Paper Shop and ink and stamp in Staz-on Black
3) Remove Stamped Peace Sign from fragment with a baby wipe
4) Stamp Peace Sign in Staz-On in the hole where the original stamped image was
5) Utilizing Crystal Effects glue a piece of white CS to the back of the fragment, hold together for 30 seconds
6) Paint Crackle Paint on the corners of your fragment. Let dry.
7) Brush over front of fragment with a light coat of Crystal Effects (creates texture).
8) Paste baubles around the outside of your image.

I think it would also make a really cool element for a card or even a necklace. Make sure you check out all of the other DT members:

• Kelly's Crafting Creatively
• Dawn's Treasure Oiler Designz
• Silke's My Life
• Cindy Haffner's Corner
• Sarah's The Scrapbook Table
• Bonnie's The Lucky Clucker
• Ellie's Scrapbook Mama
• Renee's Stamping For Sanity
• Laura's Scrapnextras

Hope you like it!
Ely

PS.
TS Fay seems to be hovering around us now, however it really doesn't feel much different than a bad rain storm, so all seems to be well. Thank you all for your concern.

Remember?

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I said I had BIG news ?!? WELLLL.....


HERE IT IS!!!!!!


I am Hanna Stamp's September Guest Designer!!!!!!!!

YAYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Starting September 1st I will begin previewing their September stamps!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ok enough exclamation marks, I just am SOOOOO excited to tell you :)


Oh, ps.

It's currently monsooning out. It seems Tropical Storm Fay has decided to pay Gainesville a visit after all. I don't think its going to cause any real damage to us, but please keep us in your thoughts.

Happy Stamping and see you tomorrow for another Little Paper Shop sneak peak!
Elyssa

Have A Wonderful Day

Julia is such a whiz at sentiments. I think she always manages to come up with the perfect font/sentiment match! I love the whimsical nature of this set especially paired with the classy sentiment font. I seem to be really into note cards this week as I made this into a set of 10. HOWEVER, I changed the color of the birds for each card!

1) Stamp the tree from the Little Paper Shop set 'Chrip' 4 times in Hunter on Certainly Celery Cardstock
2) Stamp birds in Rose Red
3) Stamp sentiment in Rose Red on Georgia Pacific Cardstock.
4) Whimisically cut it so that it looks cloud like
5) Adhere cloud and tie a ribbon with 5/8 inch wide white ribbon from Wal-Mart

Hope you enjoyed this sneak peak! Make sure you visit my teammates at:

• Kelly's Crafting Creatively
• Dawn's Treasure Oiler Designz
• Silke's My Life
• Cindy Haffner's Corner
• Sarah's The Scrapbook Table
• Bonnie's The Lucky Clucker
• Ellie's Scrapbook Mama
• Renee's Stamping For Sanity
• Laura's Scrapnextras

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

Party Like A Rockstar!! ...and a worn look tutorial....

...with this gorgeous set from Little Paper Shop. This set is aptly named 'Rock Star' for it's fun and funky vibe. I know that it will hit home with everyone from ex-hippies to Hannah Montana Tweens.

This particular card was made in a set of 10 note cards for my younger cousin. It was super easy! I'm trying a new was of explaining my card process, which is to just number my steps sort of like you would see in a magazine. As always, tell me what you think!

1) Stamp the guitar in Encore Gold embossing ink on various colors of TEXTURED card stock.
2) Heat Emboss with Egyptian Gold embossing powder by Judikins
3) Color inside the lines with different colors of Tombow water based markers.
4) Take a lightly damp cloth and smear the color. This creates the cool worn out look.
5) Get creative! Take other colors and smear them outside of your focal image.

I hope you like it! Make sure to keep checking back this week for more SNEAK PEAKS! Also please check out the other DT Members on their blogs which are linked on my side bar.

Copic Cardinal Card (say that five times fast!) and a Begrudged Love of Walmart

I should despise of Wal-Mart. I know I should based on my love of locally owned stores, my liberal ideals and the sheer fact that it scares me that a store could carry so much stuff. But, alas, like many Americans I find myself utterly fascinated by Wal-Mart. I never had one growing up so when I moved to Gainesville the chaos that is our Wal-Mart intrigued me, but I usually choose the cleaner, sleeker Tar-jay (emphasis on the French pronunciation). Last week, upon my arrival to this glorious town, a friend of mine mentioned that there was now a SUPER Wal-Mart. Well, you know me, I was there that night! WOWZA!!!! That place is CRAZYYYYYY! I have never seen such a thing!!!! AND, I must admit I liked it. Although I don't think I would buy my meat again there (Can it really be quality at 1.30$ for 1/4 lb of salami?), but then again I won't eat fast food meat. I have meat issues.

OK, now that this post has gotten a little too personal I guess I should tell you its relevance. On the aforementioned SWM trip I purchased some Martha Stewart Clear Stamps. Another company I should despise of due to my morals, but again, I'm a sucker for clean images that beg to be colored. SO, begrudgingly I purchased her bird set. Yesterday I posted a video tutorial coloring the image I used on todays card. Thank you all for your comments, I'm glad to hear you appreciate them and like my voice overs. Your comments really encourage me to create more tutorials!!!

On a side note, my Local Scrapbooking Store just created a blog!! Please check it out here.

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

Copic Tutorial #17 Faux Watercoloring!

Little Paper Shop Challenge Time!!!

Thank you everyone for the wonderful response to my tutorial AND a HUGEEE hello to all my new subscribers! So glad to have you here!

The 15th of every month is a really creative time for the members of Little Paper Shop's Design Team, because it is challenge day! Each month a different designer gets to challenge the other team members to get innovative with a set of constraints. This month the fabulous Sarah Green challenge us to make a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 card with two colors and a neutral (mine being pink and taken with teal), then came the major constraint: to use only a sentiment stamp! I stretched it a little bit to bring you this SNEAK PEAK of one of the August Releases!!!!! I am head over heels about this mini set, it is just so classic!

PLEASE take the time to visit my fanastic teammates' creations at their blogs:

• Kelly's Crafting Creatively
• Dawn's Treasure Oiler Designz
• Silke's My Life
• Cindy Haffner's Corner
• Sarah's The Scrapbook Table
• Bonnie's The Lucky Clucker
• Ellie's Scrapbook Mama
• Renee's Stamping For Sanity
• Laura's Scrapnextras

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

Copic Video Tutorial #16

The Secret....

"The secret to having it all,
is believing that you already do"

Believe it or not, I'm all moved in! My dad and I managed to unload and unpack two carloads full of clothes, books and other college necessities. Coming back to school is always bittersweet. On one hand I get more independence, have the chance to take wonderful classes and of course have lots of gator football fun. But on the other hand I miss my family, my room and the other comforts of my childhood home. I'm ready and excited for my last semester at college and for the new adventures to come!!

On a totally different note, I've noticed that its been about 2 months since my last video tutorial. I'm working on creating and editing one which I hope to have up on Tuesday!

This particular card was created with a magenta cat stamp. I actually have an older video tutorial, which depicts my shading process for this image(it uses different colors) I have embedded it below, if you're interested. I used a So Saffron card base on top of which I stamped an old SU Background (I think it's Aida Cloth) in So Saffron. I stamped my sentiment and its matching flowers from Friendship Flowers (SU) in Tempting Turquoise and Versafine Onyx Black on matching cardstock.

Happy Stamping!!!
Elyssa

Old School Card...

Wow! I just can't believe the summer is over already! I have had such an amazing three months between traveling, spending time with my family and friends and of course growing creatively. I wanted to share with you the VERY FIRST card that I made! I can probably place it to have been created around five years ago, based on the Mrs. Grossman's sticker, the eyelets and the classy use of Twill! Five years ago I was working at my LSS Scrapbooks and Stuff, taking my first AP class (AP Euro!), learning how to drive and babysitting on the weekends. Just as my creativity and style have grown so has the rest of my life. I can't wait to see what the next 5 years will bring!

I am really excited to go back up to school for my last semester of college. I can't wait to continue to share my journey with all of you!

Happy Stamping,
Elyssa

PS. I have LOTS of exciting news that I am just bursting at the seams to tell you!!!! I will share what I can ASAP!

Thankful!

I'm sorry I've been such a bad blogger lately, but I am really busy packing and getting ready to go back to school. I've also been trying to get ahead with all my wonderful design team commitments(I have some news for y'all in the coming weeks :) ). The good news is when I get back up to school I'll have some time before classes to stamp and also make some more COPIC VIDEO TUTORIALS!!!!

Ok, back to this card. I must be the last person in the stamping world to hear of 'Outline Stamps'. They are just SOOOO cool. The concept is basically a highly detailed stamp which you cut out from different papers and layer it. It looks especially nice with sparkly metallic embossing powders. For this particular card I used Diamond Sparkle by Judikins. After I cut my layers I popped them up with pop dots. The 'Thankful' stamp is from Hero Arts.

I think it's a fun stamp when I don't feel like coloring, but really want a card that pops!

Elyssa

Happy Summer!!

The summer is coming to an end. One more week and I will be in sunny gainesville (actually it gets pretty rainy in the summer). I just can't believe it.

I thought I would make a summer card to convince myself that I still have lots of glorious summer left.

I decided on my adorable Hammock Riley from Hanna Stamps!! I colored him with copics and if you look closely at my Riley you will see that he is not as blended as normal. I did tip-to-tip blending whereby you hold the tip of your lighter color E33 with your darker color E49 and then color with the lighter color. It is perfect for times when you don't have the shade you are looking for (in my case a darkish brown/black). However, it does tend to get a little streaky and practice diffenietly helps. I also went for a splotchy look with the sand to help to illustrate the uneven nature of it. I'm not sure if it came out exactly how I envisoned it, but I do like it. I also colored the image with BG10, E31, E33, E49, YR04, YR09, BG13, YG13 and YG95.

Next, I matted it on white (it resembles a sort of faux nestablities). I used some Offray (Wal-mart) ribbon on the blue mat. Then I matted all of that on Gable Green SU cardstock which I stamped in Gable Green with a Hot Potato Stamp.

WOWZA, that was a mouthful. I hope you enjoyed this card, please let me know what you think! I love to hear from you!!!

Elyssa