A Quick Update

Sorry that the posts have been non existent this week. I had a minor kidney emergency which landed me in the hospital for the better part of the week. I'll have my second surgery next week, and should be back to normal posting by next weekend. I hope to get a few things photographed and written up before I go back to the hospital so I don't leave this poor blog deserted for too long. Thanks for your patience!

OWH Birthday Bash

InStyle Stamps is hosting a challenge this week, for the Operation Write Home Birthday Bash. Who doesn't want to make cards to help our heroes? All you have to do to play along is make a birthday card to send in to OWH. All of the deets are over on the InStyle Stamps blog!

To help jump start your mojo, you can get Birthday Chloe (the image I used on this card) for FREE from us! All you have to do is subscribe to the newsletter (top left of the blog) and follow the InStyle Stamps blog. Once you've finished you birthday card, be sure to link it up on this post - one random winner will win four free digi images from InStyle Stamps! You have until Sunday, September 26th at 12:00 PM EST to get your card linked up.

Hello Beautiful

It's Release Day over at Lizzie Anne Designs! Today TWO new Little Bits sets are being released. I'm showing off In the Powder Room...isn't it darling? Along with the two new sets, there are two new digi paper collections designed to complement the stamps. I fell head over heels for this tile paper the second I saw it. And the bubble papers - perfect! The other set being released is Vintage Birthday - gorgeous! And if these sets weren't enough, the October singles are coming out early. Take a look at Tall Snowman and Vintage Merry Christmas - so darling.

Be sure to head over to the Lizzie Anne Designs blog to see more previews of the new sets. And check out what the other designers have made!

And one final happy: the WHOLE store is on sale until Wednesday. WOW! That's right - everything in the store is 20% off through Wednesday, including the new releases. Go. Quickly!

Lizzie Anne Designs Sneak Peek!

Guess what? Tomorrow, Lizzie Anne Designs is releasing TWO new Little Bits sets! Today I'm giving you a sneak peek at one of them, called Vintage Birthday. Isn't that balloon wonderful? I made this quick CAS card with a guy in mind - it's not too frilly at all. I couldn't resist adding a bit of bling to it, though ;)

Check here on the Lizzie Anne Designs blog to see who else has sneak peeks. And don't forget to come back tomorrow, so you can see the other awesome set being released!

Mailbox Love

Did you know that this week was sneak peek week (wow, say that three times fast!) over at InStyle Stamps? All week the designers showed off some of the super cute new images that will be available for purchase beginning next Friday, the 24th. This one is my favorite image - Mailbox Love. Isn't it sweet?

You can see the other amazing projects the designers came up with on this post. And too see what other great images were previewed this week, check here. Next week InStyle Stamps starts the monthly new release celebration (and it just might involve new Chloe's!) so be sure to stay tuned.

White Christmas

Today the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long team has a fun challenge - to use our border punches in a creative way! I sort of cheated a bit since I'm so pressed for time this week. I let my Martha Stewart punch around the page set do all the work for me!

We've been sponsored this week by Pink Cat Studio, and if you head over the the blog you can read ll about them and see how you can win 5 digi images!

I'll be back later with more deets about my winter white card. Thanks for being patient!

Fly Free With Me

It's sketch challenge day over at Limelight Papercrafts! Today's sketch is paired with a product focus on tags. They are so fun, yet I never remember to make them! I used the new Itty Bitty Unity stamp "Fly Free With Me" and added a sentiment from an older kit of the month. I love this new little butterfly - isn't it pretty? Down the side of my kraft card base I used a Martha Stewart edge punch. I stamped the butterfly repeatedly and then sponged the panel. I cut another one out and sponged it (adding a smidge of orange to the mix). I adhered that one to the tag I made using SU punches I no joke forgot I had! My ribbon and fiber are the scrumptious Bean Stalks from Jillibean Soup.

Here is the original sketch Mandy gave to us:

Mandy's blog will give you all of the deets on how to play along, and to see what fabulous prize you could win.

Be sure to head over to see what the other amazing designers have made for this challenge. Also, stop by the Limelight store to see all of the amazing sales and new goodies (she has NEW Basic Grey in stock!)!!

Mandy

JenMarie
Lisa A.
Lynn

Wonderland

It's InSpiration challenge time over at InStyle Stamps today, and this month's challenge is a super fun one. I challenged all of the designers to pick their favorite children's book and make a card based on it. For me this was a no-brainer. I love love love Alice in Wonderland - always have. So when I saw our newest Chloe image (Chloe in Wonderland will be released Friday, September 24th) I knew just what I was going to do.

I combined our InSpiration challenge with the sketch this week from CPS, which InStyle Stamps happens to be sponsoring. I love that it helped me to create a CAS card. White space is good!!

Be sure to head over to the InStyle Stamps blog to read all of the deets about how to play along with us this month. It's a fun and easy challenge, and you don't have to use an InStyle Stamps image to play (but the prize is bigger if you do)!

Sweet and Spooky

I blinked, and suddenly it is September 15th. How on earth did that happen? Today's the day we reveal the October monthly mix over at Lizzie Anne Designs, and we have a special surprise to go along with it!

October's mix is called Sweet and Spooky, and it is FULL of awesomeness. Distressed polka dot background, an adorable schoolhouse, a gorgeous birdhouse, a vintage typewriter, excellent Halloween stuff, the fab images on the card I am showing off today...it's all wonderful! Well, there is a really creepy spider in there *shudder*. But my hubby and daughter love that one, so I'll deal!

Guess what else we have this month? New digital papers! I used two of them on my card today - aren't they pretty??? Head over to the Lizzie Anne Designs blog to see more samples with Sweet and Spooky, and don't forget to check the other designer's blogs to see that they've created for you today!

Baker Fairy

It's time for another fun new release over at Pixie Dust Studio!! This release is called "Goodies" and it is full of sweetness and smiles! I'm sharing the Baker Fairy image. So lovely, right?? Be sure to go check out the other Pixie's blogs today to see all of the awesomeness they have created for you!

Here is a look at the whole release:

I told you it was full of sweetness and smiles, didn't I??

Be The Poem

I fell head over heels in love with the Suzi Blu stamps the second I saw them! And as luck would have it, Limelight Papercrafts is carrying the WHOLE line of them - they are meant to be mine, you see! I started small (so as not to alarm the hubs), with my two absolute, hands down favs. This one is called "Be the Poem", and I think the quote is just marvelous.

The stamps are huge, which is so great. This card is 5.5" square -- see how tall the image is? I colored her with Copics and used some not-too-crazy Basic Grey papers to accent the card. I wanted the focus to be on the pretty stamp! The stitching was all done by hand using multicolored thread. I tied on some satin ribbon and added a diamond shaped clip to echo the pattern on the image. I love it so much I don't want to send it to anyone, lol!

A Fall Challenge

It's time for the monthly Design Team challenge with the Lizzie Anne team! This month we were challenged to create a fall themed card based on this week's sketch challenge. I chose Something To Crow About, the monthly mix from September 2009. I kept my card super simple on a white base - fall can be crisp and clean, too!

Head over to the Lizzie Anne Designs blog to see what the other designers have come up with for this challenge, and don't forget to check this announcement about the Design Team Call!

Show Off Your Work!

Check out this exciting announcement from Lizzie Anne Designs:

We are looking to add a new member to our fabulous Design Team. We have a pretty rockin' team with mad talent...some of the best designers in the industry. We know we have a lot of talented customers out there too, so now's the chance to show us your stuff!

Want to join our team and play with our stamps?!
Here is what you can expect as a Lizzie Anne DT member:

• We ask for a time commitment of 6 months with the opportunity to stay on the team afterward.
  
• We will assign you specific stamps per month, and in return, we ask for 4-5 card samples each month, OR 2-3 card samples and 1 misc. project (like a packaging, altered item, scrapbook page, or gift idea).
  
• We ask that you participate in our Sneak Peeks and New Stamp Releases.
  
• We ask that you upload all your samples to our highly visited Sketchbook and also post them to your personal blogs.
  
• All Design Team members will be assigned a Project of the Month for our company newsletters… usually once every 2-3 months or so.
  
• We ask for Design Team members to volunteer to do Design Team posts on our company blog and occasionally Weekly Sketch Challenges.
  
• Design team members get a 50% discount off the retail price on all Lizzie Anne products. This is in addition to anything you are not already assigned and given as compensation for your samples. You also often have the opportunity to ask for additional stamps you were not assigned in exchange for samples.
  
• We have FUN. Cause stamping should be fun (and it is!)

Ready to work with us?

To be considered for the position, please submit at least THREE card samples and one other project (gift item, packaging, etc.) in jpeg format to info@lizzieannedesigns.com by October 1st. Let us know why you want to be a LAD Design Team member! NOTE: We prefer you use our stamps on your submission cards and projects if possible, but it is not required.

Hermione

Here is another of the new releases from Pixie Dust Studio - Hermione! I made this little frame for my daughter's desk in her room. She loves Hermione and she loves the idea of working at a desk, so I figured this would be the perfect thing to put on there to help her "study".  It was a huge hit when I gave it to her!

Christmas Tree Chick

It's time for another challenge with the Christmas Stampin' ladies! This week we all created cards using three or more brads or eyelets. I used Christmas Tree Chick on my card, and paired her with some non-traditional holiday card colors. I think she is so cute!!

Head over the the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long blog to see the gorgeous cards the other designers came up with. There just *might* be a pink tree involved!!! While you are there you can check out the deets about how to play along - you could win 4 digi images from InStyle Stamps!

Autumn Grace

Guess WHAT?!?!?! The Pixies asked me to stay and play for another month! How exciting is that?  It's challenge day over at Pixie Dust Studio. Today's fun challenge is to make a card that uses just black, white, and one other color. This was a tough one for me! I decided to use Autumn Grace, and cheated a smidge on my black and white scheme - -I went for shades of gray.

Head over to the Pixie Challenge blog to see what the other Pixies came up with for this fun challenge!!

Fall Is In The Air

It's time again for another color challenge over at InStyle Stamps. This month we have an amazing picture of fall leaves to draw inspiration from! I found the picture over at ArtsyMama's blog - she always has the most beautiful photos! This one is just about a year old.

I'm introducing Firefly Chloe to you with this card - isn't she darling? She is a new release this month, and will be available in the store on September 24th. I love all of the new additions to the Chloe collection this month!

Image from ArtsyMama

We'd love to have you play along with us this month! You have until Tuesday, September 12th at 11:59 PM PST to enter. Just head over to this post on the InStyle Stamps blog for all of the details, and to leave your link!!

Old Friends

I'm not going to lie - I am totally in love with this card!! I love the colors (rust and guava and cream and chocolate), I love the luscious ribbon (May Arts, purchased from InStyle Stamps), I love the sponging on the image panel. But most of all I love the image and sentiment.  Both are from Treasured Trinkets, the September 2010 monthly mix from Lizzie Anne Designs. The whole set is full of gorgeous images! But I am just loving the vintage stuff these days. And the sentiment is so perfect.

Today is my sweet daughter's first day of kindergarten. So pardon my super short post.....but I have to go cry a little bit!!

Back to School With Limelight Papercrafts

It's time for a project challenge over at Limelight Papercrafts, and this month our challenge was to create a back to school project! I decided to make this little backpack and a coordinating card for my daughter's teacher.

My stamps are by Unity - the butterfly on the backpack and the card are from the December 2008 kotm Little Reminders and the "Hello" sentiment is from the April 2009 kotm Fresh Beginnings.  I used Bazzill textured cardstock and Webster's Pages dp.  I added some half pearls to finish off the card.

The tutorial for the backpack can be found on SCS. It was very easy to follow!

Be sure to go see what the other designers have created for their projects -- it's fabulousness as always!!

Mandy

JenMarie
Lisa A.
Lynn

Other things you shouldn't miss:

• Limelight has Suzi Blu stamps!!!!
• New Cosmo Cricket has arrived!
• New Jillibean Soup is in stock, too!

Make Some Lemonade

I made this last month for the Lizzie Anne Designs newsletter, and never shared it on here! I'd never made a pizza box before - the SCS tutorial made it super easy. I filled this one those little individual packets of Crystal Light lemonade mix. I thought it would make a great gift for a coworker or teacher.

My stamps are from Turn Towards the Sun, which was the August monthly mix.

What do you think?

Christmas Gift Tags

This week our challenge over at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long was to create gift tags, and a tag holder. Maria gave us an easy to follow tutorial! I used two different Lizzie Anne Designs sets on this project: Build a Bauble on the tags, and Love & Joy Labels for the center (and front) of the holder. My dp is Basic Grey (really, are you surprised??).

Making the tag holder was super easy thanks to my sweet friend Tina, who sent me a Martha Stewart  Scoring Board!! That was some SUPER exciting happy mail, wasn't it??? Thanks Tina :)

Head over to the CSAYL blog to see what the other amazing ladies have come up with!!! They always share the greatest inspiration!

Love Me Some Limelight!!

Guess what?!?!?!?! Mandy over at Limelight Papercrafts asked me to stay on and be their guest for the month of September, too!!! YAY!!! I'm so excited :) Today is the first sketch challenge of the month, and it is all about patterns - paper or stamps. My card is actually a series of happy accidents and comical errors - so I ended up cheating a bit on the sketch. I made it while playing Wii with my almost five year old and holding my 4 month old. It was an exercise in patience, lol!

First I flipped the sketch on its side. Then I measured out my panels of dp (all Basic Grey's Olivia) and mounted them on what I thought was the right piece of white cardstock. Nope - not the right one! So I recut my base panel to have a card with a finished size of 6" x 4 1/4". See what happens when I multitask? I was also concentrating on the dp panels so much, I didn't really even consider where I'd put an image -- I just liked the dp so much when it all came together. So here's where my cheating came in -- I added a panel for my image, which is from the January 2009 Unity kotm (and psssssttt...the 2009 Unity Kits are on sale!).  I added a couple of ribbons and some fused pearls and quit while I was ahead!

Here's what you need to know about playing along with us:

• follow the sketch provided, and focus on patterns (paper or stamps)
• if you upload to SCS, use the keyword LLPC055
• post a comment & link directly to your card here, on Mandy's blog, by Sunday, Sep. 6 @ midnight (or before the winner is drawn Monday morning)
• cross your fingers and hope you win the awesome Jillibean Soup Sugar Picks that are the prize!

Other things you shouldn't miss:

• Limelight has Suzi Blu stamps!!!!
• New Cosmo Cricket has arrived!
• New Jillibean Soup is in stock, too!

Be sure to head over to the other designer's blogs to see what amazing things they did with the sketch!

Mandy
JenMarie
Lisa A.
Lynn