the paper plunge #6

hi tracey, momma, friends old and new!...and happy halloween to all!

this week at the paper plunge, we are challenging you to create anything but a card!  the design team out did themselves so please pop on over there to take a look and be inspired!

i decided i was not going to break my cardinal rule of 'christmas after halloween' (although the hallmark channel is airing the first christmas movie of the season tonight!  woo hoo!) so decided on this adorable triangle box.  i thought it would be fun to have this little cutie at each place setting for thanksgiving dinner...serving as a name plate and a take home treat!  directions for this little holder of goodies can be found at splitcoast stampers.  directions for the wonderful treats inside the box are found in this post...you're welcome!

stamp set:  for all things

ink:  versamark

cardstock:  under the tree specialty designer series paper, gold foil sheets, rich razzleberry

extras:  retired organdy ribbon and gold cord, gold basic metal buttons, autumn accents bigs, gold embossing powder

turtle treats:  lay small pretzels (twist or waffle shape) on a cookie sheet.  top each with a rolo candy.  place treat in preheated oven for about 2 minutes.  take out of the oven and press a pecan on top of the rolo.  these are super easy and oh so yummy!  it's a holiday staple in my house!  shirley, my sisters mother in law, loves these little babies and it's the tradition of giving her a separate little baggie of take home turtles that prompted this treat holder!

today is halloween...i have a love/hate relationship with the day.  i have always loved it as a mother, but as a teacher, not so much.  i am excited for the kids and the parade...however, the rest of the day is like herding cats!  they have trick or treating on their minds!  this year our staff is sticking to our year long theme of super heroes.  yes, i will dress up...but it got me thinking...we all possess some sort of super powers...maybe not those that move mountains, allow you to leap tall buildings or even save the world.  just simple powers that make us super in ordinary ways.  i promise to tap into those powers and make today super, because like spiderman's uncle said, "with great power comes great responsibility."

thank you for stopping by-

i appreciate you

until next time,

peace be with you-

leslie

it was a dark and stormy night-the paper plunge #5

hey momma, tracey, friends old and new!

today is a new challenge at the paper plunge.  the theme is a dark and stormy night.  we wanted to create dark or halloweenie kinds of cards.  this one was tricky for me...i don't have a lot of halloween stuff to play with these days.  i needed to get creative!  i have truly enjoyed what other crafters have done with stampin' up!'s white christmas stamp set so i thought i would give it a go.  this is what i came up with...

yes, i agree!  quite different for me!  this, however, was inspired by nature... it was about a week ago when the blood moon made its appearance.  i was in awe at its beauty.  what made it particularly cool were the sparse-leafed trees in the foreground i saw while walking my dog, ruby, in the neighborhood.  so naturally, when i knew this card needed to be created, i used the memory of that beautiful and dark night.

stamp set:  white christmas
cardstock:  crumb cake, black, pumpkin pie
ink:  olive green, early espresso
extras:  sponges, blendabilities markers, hand-made cloud template

if you are reading this post, can you do me a favor?  could you, would you play along with us at the paper plunge?  it doesn't matter what your skill level is...we just want you to join us!  my sister reluctantly agreed to begin to challenge herself just recently by putting herself out there.  we were laughing the other day when i asked her how it was going...if she was enjoying the experience.  she replied, "it's awesome!  i feel like i have a lot of friends i didn't know about each time someone comments on my card!"

i think this quote, by an unknown, is perfect:  "it's impossible," said pride.  "it's risky," said experience.  "it's pointless," said reason.  "give it a try," whispered the heart.

like my sister, i cherish your comments and look forward to reading them each day!  thank you for taking the time to leave me some love!

thank you for stopping by-
i appreciate you

until next time,
peace be with you-
leslie

the paper plunge #4 and a creative blog hop

hi momma, tracey and friends old and new!

last week was a crazy one-fun, but crazy...and although i never got to post my card on the paper plunge for the tag-you're it! challenge...i thought i'd show you what i did...i have to say, i love this card!  it is a bit more simple than my usual flair, and i really love it!

stamp sets:  flower patch, good greetings

ink: elegant eggplant, old olive, cherry cobbler, crushed curry, stazon black

cardstock:  very vanilla, elegant eggplant cherry cobbler, under the tree specialty designer series 

extras:  polka dots embossing folder, flower fair framelits, pearls, cherry cobbler seam-binding ribbon, retired red organza ribbon and gold cord

so there you have it...the card that never made it to 'press'!

last week, amanda frankle from our crafty playdate nominated me to participate in the creative blog hop.  i was tickled pink, to say the least.  i have never met amanda, however, i consider her a dear friend.  she asked me to join her as a designer for the paper plunge and i have been connected to her ever since!  i enjoy her blog and her amazing talents...especially when it comes to 3-d projects!  

1.  What am I working on right now?  this one is kinda easy...my next submission for the paper plunge!  here is a little sneak peak:

i'm sure you can guess the challenge for next week, huh?  in addition to creating for the paper plunge, i am holding a club this friday with six wonderfully amazing ladies!  i am in the middle of deciding what our theme will be so that is on my brain and all over my table.  one thing is for sure, i like to put a little treat at their spots for when they arrive.  i just recently saw this candy bar holder and thought everyone would love it...

2.  How does my work differ from others in my genre?  when it comes to card making, the trend is clean and simple.  it is also pretty eclectic...with washi tape, gorgeous grunge and splashes of color here and there.  i love the new look.  i, however, am a traditional butterfly and flower kinda girl.  i LOVE lots of layers and fussy cutting!  simple cards are the hardest for me to make...i can't help it!  here are a couple of my favorites..

3.  Why do I create what I do?  plain and simple...it makes me happy.  working in my lady cave is pure joy for me, especially when i am coloring and cutting.  i also find myself thinking about whether or not my crafty ladies would like a project...they tend to dictate some of what i do.  their successes and pure joy in what they can do also makes me happy!

4.  How does my creative process work?  most of the time, i am inspired by a challenge, another card i have seen, a color combination or by something i saw (one of my favorite inspirations came from a blouse a woman was wearing in front of me at church!).  from there, an idea/design will pop into my head...usually as i'm trying to fall asleep! gah!  then it's down to the lady cave and i let the magic happen.  some cards come to me quickly and some may take me hours to make...all the same, it's time i love!

i hope you have enjoyed getting to know a bit more about me as much as i have loved sharing with you!  i am humbled by amanda asking me to participate in this hop.  be sure to back track beginning with amanda's blog to get your creative juices flowing and for some incredible inspiration!  

now...i get to nominate someone to share their creativity with you! helen burnley at blue dahlia designs is a lovely lady i met at this past summer's stampin' up! convention.  we actually met on the plane on the way to utah.  she reached out her hand without hesitation and i have enjoyed our connection on the paper plunge ever since.  it was actually helen that told amanda about me in the first place.  i have her to thank for giving me this opportunity!  helen is, quite simply, very talented!  she has such an eye for colors, layering and textures...i know you will enjoy her work if you have not had the pleasure of seeing it already!  check out her blog next week to see what drives her creativity and talents!

there is a german proverb that says, "what flatterers say, try to make true."  i hope i continue to inspire anyone, anyone at all, in their quest in making beautiful things!  craft on, my friends!

thank you for stopping by...i appreciate you-

peace be with you,

leslie

bloom with hope again-the paper plunge #3...watercolor

hi tracey, momma, friends old and new!

my friends over at the paper plunge decided to give watercoloring  a whirl for this week's challenge.  there are so many lovely ways to use watercoloring when creating beautiful papercrafts...and i am still in the process of learning them all!  i am not master of any so i decided to stick with what i know this week...using my aqua painters to color in flowers!  bloom with hope is the perfect set...

stamp sets:  bloom with hope, good greetings, gorgeous grunge

ink:  black stazon, old olive, cherry cobbler, brown sugar, crushed curry

cardstock:  black, brown sugar, cherry cobbler, the times dsp, very vanilla

extras:  aqua painters, sponges, fancy fan embossing folder, black satin ribbon, punches

boy, it was a tough day today...i think that's when i learn the most about myself.  i try to reflect at the end of the day-about my thoughts, words, actions.  on a day like today, i have to remind myself i am human, and as john says, "you can't be on top of the mountain all the time!"  in my position at school, i often think of this quote from joel osteen..."you were created to make somebody else's life better.  somebody needs your smile.  they need your love, your encouragement and your gifts."  hmmmmm...sounds like i have to dig deep for the henry in me to come out!  (see previous post to learn about henry!)

having said all of that...COME PLAY WITH US AT THE PAPER PLUNGE!  we cherish your contributions and look forward to seeing how you interpret the week's challenge.  take a chance and dive right in!  

thank you for stopping by!

i appreciate you-

until next time,

peace be with you

leslie

bokeh...retro sketch #135 and cas #94

hi tracey, momma and friends old and new!

over at the paper plunge, this week's challenge is circles.  yes, i already designed my card, however, you did not see the card that didn't make the cut!

a few weeks ago, i saw this technique called bokeh.  i just loved the look, and knowing that i needed to make a card with circles, i thought i would give it a try.  well, many pieces of paper later, i think i achieved the look i wanted...but then i had no idea what to do with it!  i mean it.  nothing.  until tonight!  i managed to make it work for two challenges:  clean & simple colours & sketches #94 and retro sketch #135.

c.a.s. is a color challenge:

retro sketch challenge:  this week you could choose any sketch from their archive, hence the two sketches:

 

this is what i came up with:

the color is a little weird here...and you certainly cannot see how pretty the shimmery white paper is...but i really like the way this came out.

stamp sets:  papillon potpourri, oh my goodies

cardstock:  bermuda bay, shimmery white, crumb cake 

ink:  stazon cotton white, bermuda bay, crumb cake, soft sky, chocolate chip

extras:  sponges, sponge daubers, circle punches of various sizes, butterfly punch, envelope punchboard, pearls, deco label framelits

i really love the saying on this card...a nice mantra to live by-don't you think?  the only thing missing is, 'eat lots'!  ...which of course, i did quite a bit of this weekend.  all i can say is, "no regrets!" and besides, julia childs once said, "people who love to eat are the best people."  surround yourself with them!

thank you for stopping by-i appreciate you!

peace be with you-

leslie

bloom with hope...the paper plunge #2

hi tracey, momma, friends old and new!

the first week at the paper plunge was a huge success with nine entries and over 700 views!  i'm pretty proud of us!  the second week is off and running...the challenge-round.  we have asked for crafters to create art that incorporates circles in some way.  here is what i came up with-

ink:  tuxedo black momento, crumb cake

cardstock:  black, crumb cake, typeset and watercolor 

misc:  blendabilities (old olive, pumpkin pie, cherry cobbler, daffodil delight, and bronze), cherry cobbler seam binding ribbon, black candy dots, sponge

the new blog-the paper plunge- has given me a new zest for my crafting/personal pursuit of happiness.  however, i have found, when you keep happiness to yourself, it's not that awesome.  spreading some sunshine is what it is all about.

a nice woman, jodi mckinney, commented on my blog just recently, so i decided to check out her blog in return...Life in Between.  i came across a post entitled, "the world needs more henrys".  it's about a man that jodi and her friend came upon at the strip districts meat, in pittsburg, pa.  she wrote about walking into this wonderful butcher, when all of a sudden, "enter delight.  enter zest for life, passion for his job, expertise, dedication, knowledge.  enter warmth and kindness."  after reading the whole  character study of henry, i was speechless.  i had goosebumps that told me that i, too, should be a henry.  yes. the world needed more henrys!  i went to school the next day, pretended to be henry, and loved my job and the children i teach.  it was no longer about common core or standardized testing...it was about loving my job and helping my students love being in our room.  i felt different.  they attended differently.  it was wonderful.  

by being a henry, i was reminded to enjoy something in every day...whether it was the way my students hung on my every word, a kind comment on my blog i will cherish, or just knowing that i made someone smile.  

i am so grateful i have this outlet...this time i can spend making pretty things, that maybe someone may copy and actually put in the mail to make someone else happy.  believe me when i say, i am not happy 24/7.  a smile that lasts all day just makes you looks like a psycho...but finding joy in the everyday moments that are not spectacular-just regular-is a gift.  choose happiness.

thanks for stopping by-

i appreciate you.

until next time,

peace be with you-

leslie