The Alley Way Stamps Blog Hop

Hello!!!!  It is hopping time with The Alley Way Stamps, and let me tell you Alison has done it again with another fabulous release... it's so on trend and the designs are just awesome!  Plus a hop isn't a hop without giveaways, so make sure you get to the end to learn how to get entered to win all 3 of the new sets.

I had a blast making a very manly card with the new Wigwam Set... This set is amazing!  I know the teepee and the dream catcher are going to be getting a lot of love, but I didn't want the steer head to feel left out, so I just had to stamp him up too!  Take a peek...

Totally manly, right?  Whenever I see a steer-head my mind just goes western, so I tried to achieve this look with the patterned paper I chose.  The sentiment was created from the alphabet set Gabfest... a must have set if you ask me.  I also added some arrows from the Wigwam set across the sentiment.  If you look closely at the steer head you will see some slight color for added definition and authenticity ( or just because I put them there hehehe! ).  The Twine and dots just tied it all in... no pun intended.

Simple and clean, but perfect for any guy in your life.  Now onto the giveaway details... if you want to win all 3 of the new sets make sure you stop by The Alley Way Stamps Blog, there you will find more details as well as a rafflecopter entry.  You can also earn an entry by leaving a comment on their blog. You have until Feb. 28th, so don't wait!!!

I am adding this to the Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge: Anything Goes

And one more thing...

This super adorable Mini Set, Buff, is FREE when you spend $40.00 

or more during the month of March 2015.

Here are all of the links in the hop, have fun!!!

Angel

Anni

Chrissie

Dana

Emily

Francine

Heather

Holly

Jeni

Lisa - you are here

Marina - go here next

Meredith

N@Ali
Simonne

Tanja
Tracy

Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Little Things Mean A lot Layout

Hi!  This is my second post for today so if you have a minute I would love for you to stop by and visit my earlier post using some awesome SweetStamps.com products. : )

Now I'm popping in to share a layout I've made for fun... Sometimes if I find my mojo lacking, or if I start to feel overwhelmed with assignments and don't know what I'm doing it always helps to take a break and just craft for fun... it kind of clears my head... anywho, I came across the latest My Scraps and More Challenge Sketch and my layout just took off...

I used an older Glitz Designs collection that I had yet to use...yikes!  I really miss their collections, I always loved their sentiments and color schemes.  At least I was able to bust through some of my stash.

I am linking this up with My Scraps & More Challenge #100:

and with Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Singing In the Rain

Don't you just love that song?  I can't help but feel happy when I hear any part of this song, so when I stumbled upon my ruffled umbrella stamp from SweetStamps.com I knew it was perfect to get messy with.  Now I have very rarely done much with mixed media, but boy do I love the look of it, and while I was in such a good mood humming this tune I thought,  what the hey let's give it a go and see what we end up with...

I just love the results and I think I will frame it for Spring!  To create this little guy I started by covering Watercolor cardstock with Modge Podge and Torn strips of a tissue like paper from the DCWV Vintage Essentials Stack.  I then went over it with more Modge Podge and let dry.  Next came I applied gesso with my fingertip, which always dries quickly yay!  The third layer involves water coloring with my Peerless Watercolors.  I then stamped with a water resistant ink pad and hand wrote the lyrics with a Faber-Castell PITT Pen.  I colored my umbrella with Copics in a bright green to stand out, Faber Castell pens and a Memento Marker.  To finish I spritzed some Distress Spray Stain and added some "rain drops" with Glastique.

I had a blast getting messy and just playing around...

I am entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: No Rules
Marker Pop Challenge: Brights ( while my background is darker, I purposely colored my umbrella with bright greens )
and into the Stamping Sensations: Anything Goes Challenge

This also goes along with the SweetStamps.com Blog Challenge: Anything But a Card, hope to see you play along, all products are welcome!!!

Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Supplies Used:
Ruffled Umbrella 468
Peerless Water Colors Bonus Pak Small
 COPIC Sketch Marker
Distress Spray Stain BRUSHED PEWTER
Glastique GLOSS Finishing Glaze 2 oz.

DCWV Mini Book Reveal

Woo hoo!!! Have you seen the new mini book reveal by DCWV?  If not you have to click over and watch these videos, they are so much fun and really make putting a mini together easy as pie!  I have always loved the idea of a mini and how cute they are, but I've never found the time to really put one together.  With these new minis from DCWV everything I needed came in one package, and I had a book put together in one night! LOVE!  Anywho, I'm sharing my mini today on the DCWV Blog and I would love if you had a moment to stop by and check it out!  Here is a little peek... ( There are tons of silly pictures of me and my husband, so even if you just need a laugh I highly recommend you stopping by! hehehe! )

And the products I used:

View blog post for supplies

Happy Crafting!
Lisa

PTI Feb. Blog Hop...

For my first post sharing a sneak peek of the new Alley Way Stamp Set please scroll down!

Hi!  I'm popping in quickly this afternoon to play along with this month's PTI Blog Hop... when I saw the gorgeous watercolor background I couldn't say no! 

Supplies Used:
PTI Stamps: Garden of Life and In Stitches
Magicals: Lindy's Stamp Gang
Ranger Distress Spray Stain
Embossing Powder: Fine Details White and Black from SweetStamps.com
Vellum
Watercolor cardstock
Sequins: The Ton

I am also entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge: Anything Goes
and Simon Says Stamp Mon. Challenge: No Rules
Thank you so much for stopping by and Happy Crafting!!!
Lisa

Sneak Peek Time!!!

Hello and eeeeekkkk!!!! It is sneak peek time with The Alley Way Stamps, and that means I get to share a little piece of the new stamp set Hard Boiled with you all today!  ( Psssttt... not just that but you also have a chance to win it for yourself! yay!)

hehehe!  See?!  I told you it was cute!  Make sure you stop by The Alley Way Stamps Blog today to see more sneak peeks of this set and for directions on how you can win this set for yourself!

I am entering this into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: No Rules 
Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge: Anything Goes

Happy Crafting!
Lisa

A Bright Hello

Hi!  Today I'm sharing a Flashback card on The Alley Way Stamp's Blog as well as here.  I wanted to make a fun background and lately I had seen a lot of the watercolor with bokeh effect mashed together, so I decided to recreate this look with distress inks, the Seeing Spots background Stamp, and white pigment ink...

I started this card by going over the front panel with various distress inks and blended together.  Next I stamped the Seeing Spots with white pigment ink and let dry.  I then stamped the hello sentiment from the Big Chatter Stamp Set on another panel and trimmed along the bottom edge of it.  I then layered it over my background, and then added some black enamel dots to tie it all in.

I am also entering this into the February Stamping Sensations Challenge: Anything Goes
and in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: No Rules

Thanks so much for stopping by today and happy crafting!!!
Lisa

Friday and more stencil fun...

It's Friday, woot woot!  I am sharing a card today up on the SweetStamps.com Blog using some stencil fun...

Supplies Used:
Art Stencil CROSS MY FLOWER as46005
 Art Stencil STONE PATH as46014
Simple Greetings Clear Stamp Set SS4404
 Distress Ink Pad BARN DOOR
 Distress Ink Pad VINTAGE PHOTO
 Distress Ink Pad WILD HONEY
 Embossing Paste CLEAR
Shades™ Ink Spots EARTHY

To create this card I used two different stencils and two different techniques.  The first stencil, Stone Path was gone over with various distress inks for a brick look.  I then layered this with a second stencil, Cross My Flower and went over it with embossing paste.  Now this wasn't gold embossing paste, but I wanted the look of gold so I created my own!  I used clear embossing paste mixed with gold perfect pearls and viola!  I wish you could see the shine in person.  I then trimmed my sentiment and stamped it on various bricks, added some embellishments and paper layers.

I am adding this to the Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Add a Little Texture

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have an amazing weekend!!!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Mini Shaker Card and a Winner

Hello!  So recently I was lucky enough to win some new goodies from The Ton Stamps, I also ordered a new set as I love the detailed look to their images!  Today I'm sharing a card I made with their Vintage Frames Set, and it includes a little mini shaker hehehe!

All Supplies are from The Ton Stamps!

I kept this black and white so I could play along with the CAS-ology Challenge: Monochrome
and for the Party Time Tuesday Challenge #195

Have a wonderful day!!!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa


PS - My Surprise Birthday Winner is... #10!  ( chosen by my six year old while watching Sesame Street, we are very scientific here hehehe!)

*Vicki* said...

Happy birthday to you Lisa!!! Hope you have a month full of crafting goodies and fun!! :)

Your card is soooo super adorable!! Love the distressed edges and what a darling sentiment!! HUGS

February 2, 2015 at 11:13 AM

Congratulations dear friend!  Email me your snail mail at lisascreativeniche at gmail.com

Nani Ke Ola Double Page Layout

Hi again!  If you are looking for my TAWS post feel free to scroll down!  I am also sharing a post today of a double page layout I have created for the Nani Ke Ola Blog...  Here's a peek at one page, but I would love if you had a moment to check out both pages and all of the details on their blog!!!

Supplies Used:
Heidi Swapp: Mixed Company Ephemera
Heidi Swapp: Mixed Company 6 x 6 Paper Pad
Elle's Studio: Stickers

Hope you get a chance to stop by and say hi on the Nani Ke Ola Blog!  Also FYI she just got in some of the new Pink Fresh Studio Products, yay!!!

Happy Crafting!
Lisa

For You Deer Friend...

Hi!  I'm up on The Alley Way Stamps Blog today sharing this cute little tag...

The little critters from the new Stumped set are so fun to play with!!!!  ( Have you seen how cute the other critters from the other sets are too?!)  This card included some simple stamping, masking and coloring.  Nothing terribly difficult but a perfect way to make someone's day.

I am entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Challenge: All Creatures Great and Small 

Hope you have a wonderful day!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Watercoloring and Glitter... I'm one Happy Girl!

You've got that right!  I am so happy to share today's card with you because it includes two of my favorite things: watercoloring and glitter!!! Yay!  You know how sometimes you make something, and you just feel so proud that you can't wait to share it with others?  Well today is that day for me...

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Altenew
Dies: MFT (tags) Avery Elle (tag circle thing, not quite sure what the word is hehehe!)
Ink: Versamark
Embossing Powder: white and 24k gold from SweetStamps.com
Watercolors: Peerless
Glitter Cardstock: DCWV

As soon as I laid eyes on the new Altenew Challenge photo, the idea for this card just popped in my head and I couldn't wait to get crafty... of course I had to wait for some free time (what is that?), but I finally was able to create it.  I also knew that the new CAS-ual Fridays Challenge included watercoloring, so no more pushing was necessary! woo hoo!  And of course I have linked my card up to both! yay!

Thank you for visiting today and have a beautiful one!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Welcome Home

Hiya!  Happy Monday!  I'm keeping it short and sweet this morning, just like my card...

You can also find this little beauty up on The Alley Way Stamps Blog today along with some other inspirational projects!  I started this card by stamping with Versafine ink onto watercolor paper.  These cute little houses and strings come from several of the newer stamp sets including: Branching Out, Tootharina, and the freebie with your $40 purchase this month Moosing You.  The sentiment come from the Mrs. Rogers Neighborhood set.  I also did some paper piecing with the little houses to match the patterned strip down the left hand side.

I am entering this into the following challenge:
CASual Fridays - watercolor and keep it clean and simple (so happy to be able to link up here again!)
Little Tangles - watercolor

Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Final PTI Challenge: Day 1

Hi!  Ok, so I know I've been up twice already today, but I just had a blast playing with the PTI Anniversary Challenges, and I have my final one to share with you based on Day 1 Sketch and Color Challenge! (Completely backwards... I know!)  And as I seem to always do, this final card might be my favorite...

All supplies are PTI except for the stripped patterned paper which is AC and the tag dies which are MFT.  I used this color combo:

with this sketch:

This def. left me thinking, why have I not done this sooner with my tags?!  LOVE!

I am also entering this into the CAS on Sundays Challenge: Flowers

Hope you are feeling loved today! wink wink!
Lisa

Blue Ombre Challenge: PTI Anniversary

I'm back!  Still having a love-ly day ( yeah, see what I did there? huh? hehehe!) ?  I'm popping in with my take on the Blue Ombre Challenge over in PTI's Anniversary Celebrations...

All supplies are from PTI.  Since the papers are from PTI they all match perfectly with their ink and make ombre cards super easy to make!  LOVE EASY!  I mixed and matched some stamp sets and just had fun!

Happy Love Day!!!
Lisa

Heavy Metal Challenge: PTI Anniversary

Hello and Happy Valentine's Day!!!  I will be sharing a couple of posts today as it is the last day to get your projects turned in for all of the Papertrey Ink Challenges! woo hoo!!!  I love when they do their celebrations, the challenges are always so fun!  Anywho, right now I am sharing my take on the Heavy Metal Challenge...

I love these word dies from PTI they are just so elegant and dainty, and they worked perfectly when diecut through silver and gold foil paper.  My background is from the brand new MME Fancy That collection.  To finish it off I embossed the cute little heart image from Tag Its #11 in gold embossing powder.  Love how this turned out and totally loving the foil craze that is going on!

I'm also entering this into the CASology Challenge: LOVE

Thanks for stopping by and I'll be back!!!
Lisa

Love... A Mainly Pink Layout

Hi!  Today you can find me on the SweetStamps.com Blog, where I am also sharing this layout with a few more details...

Supplies Used:
 Love Word Accent W002
 Piccolo F104 Classy Circle Frames pack of 2
 Enamel Embossing Powder Fluid
 Enamel EP CRANBERRY WINE
 Cherub Hearts Die 30008
 Distress Spray Stain BRUSHED PEWTER
 Fine Detail EP FANTASY WHITE

I love playing with the Piccolo and Globecraft accents, especially with my enamel embossing powders!  This layout was a quick one to put together.  I used some stencils and misting, some layering of patterned paper, diecutting, embossing, and stickers!  And it's totally pink and girly for me and my girl!

I was inspired by The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge to go all pink, and love it!
And also the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Red + Pink 

and in the Scrappy Friends Word Challenge: 

If you are up for more challenges make sure you join in the SweetStamps.com Challenge: Pink, White and One other color

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous Valentine's Weekend!!!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa

PS - I did not forget about my Birthday surprise giveaway, I just haven't had the time to do it... so look for it at the beginning of next week, and thank you again for sharing with me and taking the time to visit!

PTI 8th Anniversary Day #2

Hi again!  This is post #2 for me today!  I've had some time to squeeze in some of the Papertrey Ink Anniversary Challenges, and it's been a blast to pull out my PTI goodies and just have fun!  I created this card for the Day #2 Challenge: Maile Belles Returns... yay!!!!  I'm such a huge fan of her clean and amazing designs, so I was thrilled to read this and about the challenge... I was inspired by this card of hers...

You can see it here on her blog to read more about how she created this beauty!

And here is what I was inspired to create...

I loved the treatment she gave her sentiment and it just so happened that I had the Movers & Shakers Sentiments sitting out at the time... it was a match made in heaven!  I can't wait to make more cards like this with the other sentiments in this set.  All supplies used are PTI. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful rest of your day!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa

PTI 8th Anniversary Day 4

Hello!  Today I'm popping in with some more Papertrey Ink Goodness!  I am playing along with Day #4: Build your own Bouquet...

When I first read the challenge I wasn't quite sure where to start, so I simply pulled out the sets I had that did have flowers and racked my brain... when that didn't work I just flung open one and grabbed the first flower I saw and started stamping hehehe!  ta da!  I used a color combo that was given on day 1 and I think that really helped to keep my idea pulled together, if you know what I mean.  So I mixed and match flowers and leaves from the Garden of Life and Natural Beauties.  The sentiment was from another floral set called Botanical Silhouettes.  To complete the look I threw on some pearls.

I am also entering this clean little number into the CAS on Sunday Challenge: Flowers

Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Cardmaker Blog: Tattoo Inspiration

Intrigued by my title?  Good!  Stop by the Cardmaker Blog to check out all the details and how I was inspired by this photo....

(Photo credits)

Happy Crafting!

Lisa

It's the little things...

are you tired of lovey cards yet?  I hope not, cause I'm about to share another one!  hehehe!  You can also find this card up on The Alley Ways Stamps Blog today...

I absolutely love the look of birch trees and when the Branching Out Stamp set came to my door I was swooning!  Needless to say if you've been checking out the TAWS blog you've probably seen lots of wonderful uses for this new set.  Rather than color these beauties in I decided to paper piece them on some MME Necessities wood print patterned paper.  I then fussy cut away!  For a soft background I lightly went along the edges with distress ink.  The next thing I did was stamp the heart image on the larger birch tree and colored it in, for more dimension I tucked the two behind my hill and used foam adhesive on the one in front.  My sentiment came from the Words to Live By Stamp Set.

I am adding this sweet card to the Simon Says Stamp: All Things Bright and Beautiful 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a beautiful day!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Birds of a Feather - PTI 8 Years

Hi!  I'm so happy I was able to find some time to create some projects for The 8 Year Celebration going on over at PTI!!! yay!!! First I'm going to share the clean and simple card I've created based on the Spring Into Action Challenge... while I have used the Feather Finery stamp set before I have never used any of these images... yikes!

All supplies are from PTI, woot woot!  Like I said a clean and simple one - layer just the way I like it!

I am also adding this to the Simon Says Stamp Challenge: All Things Bright and Beautiful

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Moosing You

hehehe!  Who doesn't love starting Monday's off with a few puns?  Today I'm sharing this cute guy over on The Alley Way Stamps Blog...

I created this card by first going over a stencil with purple distress ink lightly, I then went over just the bottom corner of the hearts again for some shading.  I stamped the little moose guy from the Moosing You Stamp set, which is free this month with any $40 purchase, yay!!!  After coloring him in I fussy cut and added some googly eyes.  I stamped the sentiment on this banner, and stamped some smaller hearts all around!

I am entering this into the following challenge:
Party Time Tuesdays: Anything goes
and Simon Says Stamp: All things bright and beautiful


Hope you have a wonderful start to your week!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa

A Little Superhero in Us...

Hello!  I'm popping in to share a little sneak of a layout I've created and am sharing on The Butterfly Reflections Ink Blog today...

This layout is a rather clean and simple one, but I love the way it turned out and the sentiment I created with various Thickers... Sometimes we all have a little Superhero in us...

Stop by The Butterfly Reflections Ink Store to pick up some thickers for yourself, they are on sale!!! Plus she is always adding some new stuff, so check it out!

Happy Saturday and Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Soft Sympathy Card

Hello!  Today I am up on the SweetStamps.com Blog sharing a soft sympathy card.  Sympathy cards are some of the hardest to create, at least for me, and I challenged myself to use stencils...

To create this card I started by going over the Circle Pavers Stencil with purple distress ink.  I then flipped the stencil upside down and went over it again with blue distress ink.  Next, I stamped the floral image in gold embossing powder.  I then layered it with vellum and embossed the sentiment.  I used the clear sequins as a way to add a soft embellishment and to hide the adhering of the vellum to the stenciled panel.

I am entering this into the following challenge:
Papertake Challenge: Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays Anything Goes

Supplies Used:
Art Stencil CIRCLE PAVERS as46015
 With Sympathy 975
 Foliage #1 Clear Stamp Set AF4613
 Fine Detail EP BLACK SPARKLE
 Enamel Powder 24k GOLD

I hope I've inspired you on new ways to use your stencils!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Soulmates Collection Layout

Hello!  This is my second post for the day, so feel free to scroll down to see my glittery fairy!  You can find this layout also posted on the Nani Ke Ola Blog...  I had fun playing with one of the newest 7Dots Soulmates Collection, and as Valentine's is just around the corner I figured there was no better time to work with such a collection...

Supplies Used:
7Dots Soulmates Collection
Damask Mask from 7Dots
UmWow Chipboard: Floral Flourish
White Embossing Paste
Gesso
Magicals
Pearls

This layout was also inspired by this month's UmWow Sketch Challenge:

And in the 7Dots Challenge: Appreciate the little things


Thanks so much for stopping by and Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Have a Magical Day!

Hello!!!  Today I'm up on The Alley Way Stamps Blog sharing a bit of magic and LOTS of sparkles, hehehe!

I wanted to show lots of angles so you could see the sparkles for yourself as well as the layering.  To achieve the look on her skirt I used my handy exacto knife around the bottoms and curled up.  This beautiful fairy comes from the new Tootharina set, that is quickly becoming a favorite.  I colored her with various copics and added lots of sparkles.  The sentiment and sprinkles come from an older stamp set called Enchanted.

I am entering this little pretty in the Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes
and Party Time Tuesdays Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting!
Lisa

Supplies Used: