Tuesday, September 30, 2008

L'Shana Tova



This particular card goes out to all of you, my friends, family and readers. May you (regardless of your faith) have a wonderful New Year. May you reach your goals, be inspired, happy and healthy.

For more information about Rosh Hashannah and the High Holy Days (strictly educational) please click here.

L'Shana Tova!
{To you a good year}

Ely

Paper: Real Red, Kraft, More Mustard
Ink:Versafine Black
Copics: R14,R27, R29, Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17
Stamps: Papertrey Ink {Mazel Tov}

Monday, September 29, 2008

Wishing you Peace and Joy

Up until last week I had never owned a piece of 'kraft' cardstock. For those of you who don't know Kraft CS is basically a neutral, light tannish piece of cardstock that has a natural texture to it. I finally cracked after reading one of Mish's posts and decided to buy a 24 pack(for 5$ at papertrey). I AM IN LOVE!! It is such a wonderful color to work with. This particular card utilizing the CS as well as River Rock, Soft Sky and Purely Pomegranate. I also played with my SU scallop punch. The stamp set is from Little Paper Shop and is called {Snowflakes}. I love its crisp wintery feel.

Happy Stamping!!
Elyssa

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Hang in There!

My Michaels recently revamped part of their stamping collection. They added some awesome new Hero Arts stamps, some Stampendeous stamps and some random Penny Black images. I have only bought two of the new stamps so far, the cute Changito the Monkey image and it's matching sentiment. I think this sentiment is just perfect because I find myself wanting to send uplifting cards to people who are going through rough times and this one foots the bill.

The main image is colored in E00, E31, E33 and G24. I sponged the background with Bashful Blue. The leaves are from the Little Paper Shop set 'Jungle Fun', which I stamped in Garden Green. The yellow flower is from the Little Paper Shop set 'Floral Wishes' , which I stamped on yellow paper in versamark. The paper is super old KI from the stash.

Well, I'm off to brunch. Yesterday marked the 1 week countdown till the big day!!!

Happy Stamping!!
Ely

Thursday, September 25, 2008

L'Shana Tova (Happy New Year)


Wow! It has been a while, about 4 days since I last shared a creation with you! I had a lot of tests, papers and prep for the LSAT to do this week and I something just had to give. So, I am going to post the rest of my LPS samples today and tomorrow.

Next week marks the beginning of the High Holy Days for the Jewish Faith. The dove is an important symbol for peace in many faiths, including Judaism. Since the first holiday which marks the High Holy Days is Rosh Hashannah, or the Jewish New Year, I thought that utilizing the Little Paper Shop set 'Christmas Wishes' would be a perfect symbol of hope for a peaceful year. The sentiments also worked perfectly! As far as techniques go I managed to make a card WITHOUT copics, but I did utilize the 'Rock n Roll' technique for the dove. The rest of the card is simple, but I think it will make someone happy!

I'm off to LSAT class, see you tomorrow!
Elyssa

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Little Paper Shop!!!

I PROMISE I will have my other two samples up, I am just TOOOOO swamped to craft(3 tests, 1 paper, 1 cold, 1 lsat, you get the picture). BUT, they are out!!! So please visit www.littlepapershop.com and check them out!!!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

{Little One}


I love the fun, hand drawn look of this set. I started off with the heart from LPS's newest set 'Little One' which will be released on September 23rd. I love the whimsical look of the focal image which I colored in Rv11, Rv14, Rv29, B01 and Y15, then topped off with Stickles. Next I stamped one of the many sentiments from 'Little One' in Rose Red. The base is Lovely Lilac with stars from the set which are stamped in Eggplant Envy.

I'm off to study for my LSAT, two tests this week and begin my paper. I'll be back tomorrow with another sneak peak from LittlePaperShop.com!

Ely

Friday, September 19, 2008

Little Paper Shop Sneak Peak #1

This set is my absolute favorite for this month. The main image is a snow globe with other sentiments and elements to go with it. The minute I saw it I thought of one word POTENTIAL. This set can be used with ANY set to create the perfect globe. I decided to play around with it a little make a nature themed global to sent to one of my cousins. She LOVES butterflies.

I used Little Paper Shop's Butterflies and Blossoms set for all of the stamping save the globe. I stamped the Butterfly in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it in with YG91, YG95 and BG13. Next I masked the butterfly and stamped flowers to replace snowflakes as the 'floating element' of my globe in Soft Sky. Next, I masked the top portion of the globe and stamped the leaves from BnB in River Rock. I then cut out my globe and placed it aside. My focus then went to my layer. I decided to keep the two color theme and stamped the flowers in Soft Sky/River Rock. Then I used my copic marker (YG95) to make a faux layer by using the chisel tip and swiping my marker across the paper. Finally, I dyed my clear ribbon with YG13. EASY!!!!

I also wanted to share with y'all a little tip I've picked up with acrylics. Sometimes circular images (or straight lines) are hard to place on your acrylic block while maintaining shape by just 'eyeing it'. I find it helpful to place your block over the set's label and then layer your stamp over it. Thus using the label as a template.
Also, make sure you check out the wonderfully talented other members of the LPS design team at our very own LPS DT BLOG!!!


Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

Monday, September 15, 2008

Go Green/Clear LPS Challenge

The environment is an important topic for me and in this election year I find it is being brought up quite a bit. I think it is important to try to consciously make a difference in your daily routine to be more 'green'. From using recyclable bags at the grocery store to driving less, there are truly a plethora of ways to try to be more eco-friendly.

As many of you know, the Little Paper Store set 'Peace' was in part inspired by yours truly. So when Julia challenged us to make something with the something 'clear' I thought about this bottle. Now I know she probably had in mind stamping on acetate, but I decided to make this challenge about my Nalgene.

For those of you who don't know, Nalgenes are reusable travel bottles which are BPA-free. They are light-weight and easy to grab and go with. They come in a ton of colors and shapes, but most importantly they enable you to consume less plastic. Rather than grabbing a water bottle to go, I simply fill her up at the faucet.

I made a cute little tag to adorn my nalgene with a CLEAR (just in case you thought my use of a bottle for the theme was too much of a stretch LOL) tag. I stamped the tree from 'Peace' in chocolate chip/garden green, then I stamped the peace sign in soft sky and finished it off with the sentiment 'Go Green'.

Happy Stamping!!!
Ely

Friday, September 12, 2008

Earth Laughs In Flowers


There is a definite 'Outline Flowers' trend going on in the stamping world this fall. I just love this clean look. I tried to emanate the 'Upsy Daisy' look with 'Stem Silhouettes'. I think it turned out pretty well. I used Garden Green and Cameo Coral on Georgia Pacific CS. The base is More Mustard. The ribbon is from American Crafts and of course the half-back PEARLS. I love those!!!

Isn't it YUM???

Elyssa

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Give Thanks

This card is another product of Mary's Retired Stamp Sale. This particular set is from a promotion SU did with Country Living a couple of years ago, it's called 'Country Blessings'. With SU pairing up with CL again this year, I figured this set would be apropos. The base card stock is Old Olive. I stamped the leaf in River Rock over the entire base. Then I did graduated stamping in Chocolate Chip Ink on the GP CS. I colored the darker CC leaves with Y91 or Putty. The sentiment is done in Garden Green and is matted on a piece of CC CS. These half-back pearls seem to be this month's BIG Pink Flower (if you've been reading my blog for a while you may know about my OBSESSION with Heidi Swapp's BPFs).

Simple and Sweet, my favorite combo.

Happy Stamping!
Ely

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Friends like you keep me afloat!


Thursday marked the official 'One Month till the LSAT' countdown, which also marked a definite spark in my stress level. Which, obviously, meant that I felt the need to stamp. Do you feel that it helps calm you? I definitely do. Hence, this month I feel confident in telling you that there will be A LOT of cards uploaded to this blog, so please make sure you bookmark this site or subscribe to it.

This particular card has an interesting story. Tuesday was stamp club, and the ever wonderful Mary agreed to let me purchase some of her retired stamps. She also mentioned that my blog could use some more Stampin' Up cards. She also supplied each member with an adorable sample ring of SU DP, which, I believe she meant us to use as a color reference. HOWEVER, watching those gorgeous squares of product sit on that ring was just tearing me apart. SO, I decided to release these four scrumptious pieces of Sweet Always DP from their bondage and use them in this card. The stamp is retired, but is called "Favorite Friends", which I colored with BG10, BG13, B01, YR65, RV11, RV34, and E31.

I used Faux Nestabilites by matting my image on white card stock. The ribbon is retired Soft Sky (again from Mary!!!). The pearls are from Hobby Lobby. *Helpful Hint* I like to buy my half-pearls in glued lines and the cut them off the line one by one. This way they have sturdy adhesive behind them (as opposed to individual half-pearls).

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Ok Fine, One More Hanna Stamps Card

Ok, maybe I'll show you just one more sneak peak from tonight's release via Hanna Stamps, called 'Thanksgiving'. I'll keep it short and sweet!

I LOVE this set! How gorgeous does Hanna look with more traditional colors? The paper is from Basic Grey and the sentiment is from Stampendous. Hanna is colored with YR21, E00, R20, BG10, R39, E31 and E37. The card base is Mellow Moss and the Ribbon is from Maya Road.

Hanna Stamps Preview #4

I can't believe this is the final day of Hanna Stamps Previews, but not to worry you haven't seen the last of Hanna on this Blog. I have lots of other cards to share as the month progresses. This fun card is made with the new 'Thanksgiving' set from Hanna Stamps. The focal image (Hanna) was colored with E00, R20, R29, R39, V01, V04, BG10, B14, E31 and E33. The pattern on her dress is actually a stamp for the Little Paper Shop set 'Friends'. She is standing on leaves from the Hanna Stamps set 'Jump for Joy'. I water colored the background with some Blue Twinking H20s.

Doesn't she look festive???

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa Blair

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Hanna Stamps Preview Day #3


Well tomorrow is the big release so make sure you join us at the Hanna Stamps Forum at Splitcoaststampers.com . This set is called 'Kiss the Cook'! It has sooooo many possibilites. From BBQ thank you notes, to recipe cards this set is going to be a staple in my stamping room.

I decided to get creative with the set, so I created this little scene. I even used ribbon as wall paper! I also thought the saying could be one of those vinyl cling sayings that Stampin' Up is selling. LOL. Anyway, I colored Hanna in E00, R27, R29, R39, V01, V04, YR63, YR04, YR14, E31, E33, R20 and BG13. Her bread plate is E00, E33, E31 and E37. To create depth with the cabinets I sponged Only Orange on Bazzil Bling paper.

Last night was Stamp Club with the wonderful Mary. I broke down and bought the scallop punch as well as Tangerine Tango Ink and Paper. I also bought *a few* retired sets. I'll be showing you soon!

Make sure you check out Hanna Stamps tomorrow night for the big release.

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Hanna to The Rescue



As your Elementary School Teacher always said 'Fire Safety is Important'. Besides the usual drilling of your family on household exits and fire safety protocol, my teachers always ended the lessons by having us make a little sign for our front window which denoted how many animals lived there.

This project just screamed to me the minute I saw this Hanna Stamps set. The font is from Inque Boutique. I colored Hanna with C01, E00, YR14, E397, B14, R27, R20 and R29. Her feline friend (actually I colored her to be my Grandma's 20 YEAR OLD cat, Fonzie) is colored in C1, C3 and C5.

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa Blair

Monday, September 1, 2008

Free Fallin'- Hanna Stamps Sneak Peak #1

In keeping with my tradition of one layer stamping, I present you with this one layer card from Hanna Stamps. Isn't she a beaut? I LOVED working with these high quality acrylic stamps. Kristi is great at having coordinating stamps for all of her sets and this pile of leaves is the perfect fall accompaniment to jumpin' Hanna. I also wanted to keep this card in my release tradition of having one very simple card. The background is done in BG10 and G21. The leaves are in E31, YR61 and E37. I paper pieced Hanna with Orange Bling CS, patterned denim paper and colored her with G21, G24, E00, R20, E39, and BG13 and Y29.

Kristi is also running a promo leading up to the one year Anniversary of Hanna Stamps on October 2nd. For the next month every 50$ you spend gets you entry towards a 200$ HS Shopping spree or a Copic Air Compresser. For more details please see Kristi's Blog.

Happy Stamping!!