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

Clean and Simple?

I like to play. I like glitter. I like mess.

Clean and Simple?

Not usually.

While, I love the concept, somehow my cards always end up funky. I decided to challenge myself to LSC178 or the Simple Birthdays Challenge. I started of with a piece of Not Quite Navy. I stamped on it with one of my stampendous cubes from Michaels (again the 50% off plus 20% off deal) in Not Quite Navy. Next I placed a piece of burgandy vellum over the NQN and a piece of olive ribbon on top of that. Then, I used Diamond Glaze to stick on the three baubles. Lastly I used a sentiment from 'Best Yet' (which is one of my all time favorite sets-and it was a hostess gift!).

Clean and Simple? Check and Check!

Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

Thank You So Much!

I just love this card! I don't think the picture came out so great, I tried to play around with it in photoshop to make it look more like it's amazing counterpart. Oh, well!

I had a ball making this card. It started with the swirly shape stamp (the image that 'thanks SO much' is attached to). I bought it at Michaels during their turkey day sale, so it was 50% off then another 20% off, which was perfect! So I stamped it in Versamark on my Georgia Pacific paper, then brushed over it with Perfect Pearls. Have you ever used PP?? They are just so glittery and cool, I think Ranger makes them. The 'Thanks SO Much' sentiment is from an old SU! Hostess set (So Many Sayings), which I also HIGHLY suggest because you can cut apart the blocks which makes it SUCH a great deal. I used my SU! word window punch to punch it out.

The flowers are from prima. I squirted a tiny bit of 'Broken China' distress stickles into the center (also love this product, can you tell I'm in a good mood??? lol). Next I rolled my wheel (I can't recall its name) over the bottom third of my card and finished it off with some impressions of an old Outlines stamp.

Publish Post

Love it!!!

Happy Stamping,
Elyssa Blair

PS. If you are a SmashBox (makeup) fan, then you have to check out the deals ulta.com is running! Just search SmashBox gifts and you'll find so many good deals!!!

PSS.
Can you tell I LOVE a good deal?

Happy Belated Turkey Day!!

Wow! It really has been a while. It feels like these past two weeks have been a whirlwind. I am officially half way through my law school apps!! The scary thing is I only have two more weeks of my entire undergraduate career. Don't feel too sorry for me though, because I am so excited to move on to this next phase of my life.

I made today's project for my dining room table for Thanksgiving. It was super fun and easy to make. The turkey is from High Hopes Stamps. The sentiment is from Stampin Up. I colored the turkey with Twinkling H20s (super fun, if you've never tried). Easy Peasy!

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Elyssa

Little Paper Shop Challenge

Sorry I've been a bad blogger!!!! Life just sometimes gets crazy (good crazy, but crazy).

This month it was my turn to challenge the Little Paper Shop Design Team. I challenged them all to utilize at least 2 LPS sets, color something and use some sort of sparkle. I used FOUR sets, Flourished Dove (the word peace), Little One (the guitar on the right), Peace (the peace signs), and Rock Star(the guitar on the left). My color scheme was More Mustard, Old Olive, Rose Red and Taken with Teal. For my bit of coloring I tye-dyed (with copics) the guitar on the left.

Happy Birthday Hanna!

This card was made with a combination of stamp sets. I used Brocade Blue for the base and stamped it in versamark with the Little Paper Shop Flourished Dove. The next layer is a piece of white cardstock from Georgia Pacific stamped with more stamps from Flourished Dove in Brocade Blue and Rose Red. Next we have lovely Hanna from the set Kiss the Cook. The rest is self-explanatory :)

It's beginning to feel like winter! That cool breeze is turning frosty. I just can't believe the year is almost over.

Hope you're having a great November!!!

Elyssa

Multiple Occasions...One Card!

We've all been invited to an all-in-one event, be it a combination birthday/graduation or an anniversary/holiday party. Making a multi-panel card is an easy solution to a multi-purpose events. Just devote one panel to each occasion and you're good to go!

This particular card uses the set 'Little Layers, Plus' as well as 'Groovy' from Stampin Up. I colored it in with copics, YR21, YR31, G21, G24, B05, Y15, B100, T05.

I also wanted to remind you all that the BLOG CANDY offer ends tomorrow! Please make sure you scroll down for more details!

Elyssa

May All Your Dreams Come True

Little Paper Shop is hosting a sketch challenge! There are two choices for sketches which can be found at the Little Paper Shop Blog. I chose to use the 1st sketch. Make sure you play along, next Saturday there will be a drawing from all the entries for a free stamp set from the next release! If you upload it to SCS, make sure you use the code LPSSC1.

This particular card uses the LPS set 'A Dream', which was released last weekend. I love quotes and this set has some wonderfully inspirational sentiments. I used Ruby Red for the base and the sentiment. I colored in the hearts from the SU set 'A Little Bit of Happiness', with the following copics G24, B01, R27, R39 and V01.

Hope you liked it!
Happy Stamping!
Elyssa

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

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

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

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

Kwerner Color Challenge #15

I totally forgot the Kwerner Color Challenge was due today, so you get two entries in one day!! I had a rough time with this combo as it looked so much better on her website then I could make it look. I tried. I am at peace with it (LOL), I think. The deets are below!

Elyssa

Stamps: Thomas Kinkade 'Make a Wish', 'All Occasions' by Little Paper Shop I
nk: Chocolate Chip Paper: Certainly Celery, Really Rust, Close to Cocoa and Whisper White
Accesories: Inksentials White Gel Pen

Roses In Winter Stationary in 10 minutes

I realized yesterday I was really lacking in the stationary department. I wanted something simple and classy. So I took my script backgrounder from Michaels, inked it up with some versamark and brushed over that with Perfect Pearls (Gold). Did some simple three step stamping with 'Roses in Winter' (in Ruby Red and Mellow Moss). Mounted it on Mellow Moss, tied a piece of Offray Ribbon (in White) and TA DA gorgeous SIMPLE stationary!

On another note, Little Paper Shop is only a couple of days away from previews for their next sets. They are GORGEOUS, I have been working on some DELISH samples!!! The DT will start showing sneak peaks on June 16!!! Mark your calenders ladies!!!

Can't wait to start the unveiling,
Elyssa

Swell News!

One of my favorite professors is about to have a baby! I am not sure of the sex of the baby so I wanted to go with a pastel color palette. I think it turned out really well! I used a the carriage from 'Fast and Fun Notes' from Stampin' Up and 'Swell News' from Little Paper Shop.

Swell News as well as all other LPS sets are on sale because Julia is changing the layout of her website and all LPS packaging. In order to clear out her prior packaging she has placed everything from 10-25% off. Make sure you visit Little Paper Shop asap.

My Internship is going really well. I love seeing Justice in action, it is truly amazing. Thank you all for your well wishes! Also, I just starting baking (literally just started as in made my first thing ever on monday)! I've only made Banana Bread and Cheesecake so far, but if anyone has any great recipes or recipe websites please let me know :)

Elyssa

Stamps: 'Fast and Fun Notes' by Stampin Up, 'Swell News' by Little Paper Shop
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Pixie Pink and Barely Banana by Stampin' Up
Copics: BG10, YR31, R11, B01
Paper: Barely Banana, Georgia Pacific, Bazzil

It's Not Where You Go...

I have to confess that I received 'Baroque Motifs' OVER 2 months ago and I hadn't even put it together, until yesterday! Wow! I LOVEEE this set. I think I got a little carried away with the matting, but all and all I'm happy with it! I also got a chance to use one of the many sentiment from Little Paper Shop's Words of Love. I am going to send it to my Grandparents for their 55th anniversary!!

The weather is still gross down here, stormy and humid. So I am back to the inside photography. What do you think? I don't think it's quite as clear.

Oh well, I'm off to clean,
Elyssa

Stamps: Baroque Motifs (SU), Words of Love (LPS)
Ink: Apricot Appeal, Purely Pomegranate, Almost Amethyst (All SU)
Paper: Apricot Appeal, Purely Pomegranate, Almost Amethyst (All SU)
Accessories: Baubles colored with copic markers (R39)

Buddha, Buddha, Buddha Rockin' Everywhere

My sister is OBSESSED with Buddhas. She thinks they are just so wonderful and full of good vibes. I just about screamed when I saw this stamp by Judikins at Chica Ink. It is just GORGEOUS!! I embossed it with Brown Embossing Powder and colored it in with Tombows. I choose tombows because they are water based and resemble a more watercolor-y look. I think the shaded look of the stamp really calls for it.

The sentiment is from Stampendous (House Mouse) and actually goes with a fortune cookie House Mouse Stamp, but I thought it was perfect for this card! I used my Star Wheel from Stampin' Up on the base cardstock, which is Chocolate Chip.

I also wanted to wish everyone a VERY Happy Fourth of July!! We're headed to the beach and to see Fireworks tonight! I also wanted to say thank you to all of those who serve to protect our country and those families who have loved ones who do the same!

:)
Elyssa

I Picked Something Special Just for You!

I hope you all enjoyed yesterday's stamp store review. I am hoping to buildup a reference of a lot of stores. If you would be willing to write a review of your local stamp store, I would love to link to it or post it here. Just let me know!

Today's card was so much fun to play with and shade! I mean how gorgeous is that duck? I also really liked it's pairing with the butterfly and flowers, it is such a perfect spring/summer card. Hope you enjoy :)
See you next time!
Ely

Stamps: Penny Black (Duck), Little Paper Shop (Butterflies and Blossoms)
Ink: Stampin Up (Pretty In Pink), Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics: Rv11, Rv14, Yr31, C1, C3, Yr04, G21, G24, BG10
Paper:Stampin Up (Pretty In Pink), Georgia Pacific (White), Jo-ann's Stack (orange)
Ribbon: Joann's By the Foot

Caffeine Expression

I seriously feel like I need a vacation from my vacation. But not such luck! Tomorrow begins my first day interning with a local Judge. I did the same internship last year and I am really looking forward to it! The other thing I am looking forward to in terms of the internship is the fact that the neighborhood that the court room is in houses a Dunkin Donuts!!! I am head over heels in love with their Iced Coffee, it's delicous and cheap to boot.

Todays card is perfect for any coffee lover. The card base is Chocolate Chip from SU. The first layer from the back is white Georgia Pacific cardstock sprayed with Perfect Pearls and one pinch of Close to Cocoa re-inker. Next I stamped the Starbucks sign from Viva Las Vegas in chocolate chip. The second layer is tan bazzil cs onto which I stamped 'Just Wanted to Espresso my Love' in Chocolate Chip. Finally I stamped the adorably hung up on caffeine mouse from Ann-ticipations in Tuxedo Black Ink from Memento (colored with Copics: YR31 and R20). The card base itself is just under 4.25x5, smaller than a standard A2.

I'm working on the reviews of the stamp stores and I will be posting them in the coming days.

Talk to you soon,
Ely

Hello!

Thank you everyone for the wonderful wishes for my trip, it was fantastic! We went to three cities (Boston + NYC + Newport) plus a few day trips. Besides the AMAZING normal site seeing we also got a chance to go to three stamps stores (Paper Source + Chica Ink + The Ink Pad). I am going to start a new column with stamp store reviews because I always love to know whether a store is a dud or a gem. Later today I will post my full reviews.

Today's card is a fun mixture of stamps from the sale at my LSS. The main image is from Magenta and was such a joy to color. I used Y23, YG95, YG99, BG10, B01, R39 and E33. I loved playing with this 'through the window' coloring, which I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black on Georgia Pacific paper. I stamped the blue CD with a background stamp from Hot Potato Stamps in Tempting Turquoise. HPS has a lot of really great thick images that are perfect for backgrounds.

The card base is Purely Pomegranate (I actually convinced myself to use it, I overcame a tinch of hoarding HOORAH!). I also used the PP ink for the sentiment 'Hello' from My Favorite Things, which I stamped on GP CS. The ribbon is from Wal-Mart. I am oddly cheap with ribbon. I know it is some people's stamping passion, but IMHO simple looks better.

Well, I'm off to catch up on some sleep. The airline lost one of our bags on the way back (and the way there) so let's just say the stress level is a little high over here. However, I should be back later today for those reviews and I am looking forward to playing with all the rubbah I bought along the way (my very first Thomas Kinkade stamp as well as some A Muse and others).

Elyssa