An Update.

I've stopped stamping.


GASP!

I'm not sure when exactly it happened. But it has. Between law school and traveling I just lost my passion. I am still trying to find creativity in everyday things and to do something creative daily, but I just don't find myself reaching for my ink pad.

I haven't updated this because I thought that would make it too final. I thought I would start stamping again. I don't mean to sound melodramatic, after all it is arts and crafts, but it was such a big part of my life for so long.

I want to thank each and everyone of you who has come to visit this blog, who has commented, who has shared a little bit of yourself with me, I am forever grateful for that. Your passion for this hobby truly inspires me and I am sorry that I am no longer able to bring that inspiration back for you.

Elyssa

SALE ALERT!!!

The new LPS sets are out and on sale! Check it out here!

LPSC15

So somehow I got totally confused and ended up doing last weeks sketch challenge instead of the color challenge. However, I really do like the way this one came out so I thought I'd share it with all of you!

I used the {Beauty of Nature} set with one of my all time favorites {Inspired By Asia}! I colored them all in copics. Hope you like the card!

Elyssa

Great news...LPS will be participating in....

Want to STAMP OUT ALZHEIMER's? We do too, and hope you'll join our cause!

Jen Tapler and Susanna Boyd have been hard at work organizing "Stamping Out Alzheimers": an amazing event that you won't want to miss!! For a mere $5 donation you will have access to exclusive challenges and fun prizes from numerous different companies. And the best part..... 100% of the proceeds go directly to the Alzheimer's Association!

Little Paper Shop is hosting a sketch challenge on the Stampin' out Alzheimers forum and would love for you to join us. At the end of the event we will be drawing one name from all the entries to win 4 - 4x6 stamp sets. That's over $60 in value! But the only way to enter is on the Stampin' out Alzheimer's forum! Hope to see you there!

Also check out the LPS Blog for details on the sketch challenge for tomorrow :)

Elyssa

LPS Monday-A Day Early!

Life has this crazy way of getting ahead of me. But this time, I'm going to get ahead! Here is my LPS Monday Card!

This was really fun, especially because I used the new Marrakech Line from Basic Grey. I actually went to Marrakech(its near Casablanca in Morocco) so it made me reminse (although, incediently the line looks more Indian to me).

The sentiment is from the LPS Set {Make a Wish} which has great sentiments! I stamped it in Real Red from SU!. I utilized the butterfly from another one of my favorites {Butterflies and Blossoms} which I stamped in Green Galore. Then I spread an entire layer of stickles over the cut out butterfly. Lastly I sprayed the whole thing with red Tattered Angels Glitter spray.

I love the way it turned out. What do you think?

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

Mom!

Sorry it took me so long to post, but alas, that is how life is. Some exciting things are happening: I am deciding between Emory Law and George Washington Law for next year. I am going to be teaching classes at a LSS this summer and working at Nordstroms. Busy, Busy!

The trip was AMAZING! I am trying to pick out a few pictures to post in the coming days. Today's project was made for my Mom for Mother's Day. It was super easy! I took an old wood SU! block that was collecting dust and painted it with White Acrylic Paint. I poured Diamond Glaze into the crease and held the letters into it in order to keep them upright (they're American Crafts stickers). Lastly, I tied a bow (American Crafts) around the edge of the block and TA DA! Simple and easy!

Happy Stamping,
Elyssa

Hello from DC!!!

Hello from Washington DC!! I know I haven't been able to update since I've been back, BUT I have a good excuse! I'm visiting law schools. I have lots of exciting projects which just need to get photographed, SO I will be posting on Wednesday. In the mean time, I'm gonna do a surprise blog candy. It will just be a little token of my appreciation (no biggie) for following my blog despite my long absense. To enter just comment with your favorite travel experience!

Can't wait to read all about it!

Elyssa

I'm coming home!!!

I'll be home May6th and updates will f0llow shortly there after!!!

ps. new LPS sets are coming out and they are TO DIE FOR!!

Elyssa

Semester at Sea

I have been dreading this post for some time. Not because, I am not totally thrilled with the reasoning behind it (because believe me, I AM), rather it is because I won't be updating as much for the next 3 1/2 months.

Why, you may ask...

Well...

Tomorrow, I leave for Nassau to go on the adventure of a lifetime. I will be Studying Abroad for my last semester of undergraduate AT SEA! The University of Virginia offers a program called "Semester At Sea" which is really a huge opportunity for me because I will literally travel all around the world.

I will be blogging via Around the World in 108 Days. I toiled with the idea of blogging my trip on this blog, but y'all didn't sign up for a travel blog so this is what I have come up with.

I hope you join me back here in a couple of months or continue on this journey with me through my Around the World Blog.

I'll miss you guys SO MUCH!!!

Happy Stamping and Bon Voyage,
Elyssa

Happy Release Day!!!

Here is "Tea Time", yesterday's sneak peak. This set just screams Alice in Wonderland to me. How fun is it? I colored it with copics then matted it on Real Red then a mellow green. Simple, but Oh So cute!

Today is the day!!!! You can officially purchase my FIRST EVER set!!!!! Just Click Here!!

I promised y'all some more samples. So here is a cute one I made for my mom. The Mug is from the MYOM set as is the word 'mom' and the foam. How great is that font? I love it!

One of the things I love about this set is that you can totally customize it by masking the mug.

So fun and easy!

Please let me know what you think :)

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

Puppy Love

Thanks for all the positive feedback yesterday! This has been quite an adventure. Today's release is called "Puppy Love". It is such a fun valentines day set. The main image on my card is from it and was colored in E31, E33, R20, R11, R14 and E27. Copics are always lauded for their blendibility, but I also love the uneven textures that you can create for depth. I used this technique for the heart!

I mass produced this card for this years V-Day cards because it is simple, yet fun and cute!!!

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

MY FIRST SET!!!!!!!!!!!

So today is the BIG day!!! With my BIG announcement....

I DESIGNED MY OWN SET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right, this set "Make Your Own Mug" from the Little Paper Shop is MINE!!!!! My sketches, my font choices, my sentiment choices (and a lot of help from Julia on the technical computer side)!!!!

This set has been months in the making! I typed up a little introduction for LPS which you can find on their blog. BUT, let me just tell you how much this set means to me. This blog (which is almost one year old!) has taken me to places that I couldn't have imagined from design teams to friendships to this very set. I want to thank all of you who come to this site, subscribe, comment or whatever. You hold a very special place in this blog and my heart!

This set officially debuts on the 15th. BUT, if you head over to the Little Paper Shop Blog, you can enter for a chance to win this very set!!!

This particular card utilizes my set! (Love the exclamation marks!) The main coffee mug is from MYOM, but the decorations aren't. My concept for this set was a VERY customizable group of stamps that would work with sets that you already own. Flexibility is key. I used the peace sign and ampersand from the Little Paper Shop set "Peace", and the word 'love' is cut from a sentiment in "In Loving Memory"(which just shows the flexibility of acrylic in general). I stamped them in distress ink antique linen, tempting turquoise and ruby red, respectively. I colored and shaded the mug in B01, R29 and R20. The layer is done with dampening distress inks and the running the paper through the ink, then stamping the coffee beans from the set in Staz-On Timber Brown. Finally, the sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip.

The inside reads "You'd be a triple shot, caramel macchiato with three sugars and extra whip cream".

Please check out my fellow Design Team members for more inspiration: Julia, Bonnie, Allison, Cindy , Jessica, Mel, Sarah and Taylor!!

I made up about 3-4 more samples which I will be posting throughout the day, so come on back!!!

Happy Stamping!!!
Elyssa Blair
Stamp Designer

Happy Heart Day!

The big announcement is coming in just two days as is the Little Paper Shop releases, coincidence? You'll just have to tune in to see!

I made this cute card a couple of days ago with images from my LSS. The background is pixie pink stamped with a stamp from Baroque Motifs (SU). The accent CS is stamped with a 'Delta Arts' stamp in versamark on Lovely Lilac. The main image is from my LSS and I colored it in R20, V01, E31, E33, E37, YG91 and the colorless blender. The sentiment is from MFT.

Please tune in for the big announcement in 2 days!!!!

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

Congratulations-Asian Style

Do you ever buy a set and somehow it sits by your desk for months, but then when you decide to pick it up and play with it you realize just how WONDERFUL it is? When I first joined the Little Paper Shop Design Team, Julia sent me the premier sets, one of which happened to be Inspired by Asia. Which now happens to be one of my all time favorite sets and also happens to be on sale for 50% OFF!!! That's pretty major savings.

The entire background was made with stamps from this set. I used the circular fan image in Ruby Red, the crane in Chocolate Chip and the bamboo shoots in Old Olive to match the card front. The fan is from my Viva Las Vegas Stamps in Vegas. I colored it with copics in E00, E33, Y000, R20, YG96 and R29, and popped it up!

The sentiment is very special. It is actually a sneak peak from this months to be released sets and has a VERY special meaning to me (it also matches the SU word window). So stay tuned!!!

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa