New Year's Eve *AND* New Release Friday at A Day for Daisies!

I cannot believe it is New Year's Eve!  Time goes so fast (except when I'm at work - *snicker*).  I had such a lovely time visiting with my family for Christmas and it is always so hard to leave!  We drove back yesterday - 12 hours in the car...UGH!   It's a nice drive but only when I'm heading to Indiana; coming back always seems longer :)

One of the wonderful things about going home is being able to spend time with my sister.  I love hanging out with her and being able to talk face to face and reminisce and  laugh about stuff - just real quality time!  One of our most memorable times together was a trip we took to the Outer Banks, North Carolina.  Growing up in the mid-west, Shell and I did not have many opportunities to vacation at the beach.  In fact, we were both grown before we even saw the ocean, let alone vacation there.  So it's a special memory for us.  Once I saw the images for the new release this week (find them all HERE), I knew Shelly would love the image of the sisters on the beach and I wanted to make something for her using the image.

The technique I used can be found at Split Coast Stampers and it was super quick and fun.  What was really great is that I needed only a few things to be able to make this and considering I was traveling and didn't have the advantage of my fully-equipped craft room, this project was ideal!  I brought my copics and laptop with me and here are the other things I used:

ADFD digital images, Shells "B" and "E" , and "At The Sea With Sister"
Flameless candles - I got my set at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $9 while "after-Christmas" shopping!
White tissue paper - plenty laying around from Christmas presents
Wax paper (enough just to cover the image) - Mom's kitchen
Heat gun - borrowed my Mom's

I printed the images onto the tissue paper, colored them, and then cut them out leaving about a 1/4" edge all around the image.  I placed the image on the candle where I liked it and then covered it with the wax paper.  Using the heat gun, I melted the wax from the wax paper over the tissue which adhered it to the candle!  Just a word to the wise - the flameless candles are made from wax too and it will melt also so you don't want to heat it too much.  I found that it was much like embossing.  Once my images were colored and cut out, it took literally only a minute to a minute and a half to adhere the images to the candle!

I wish you all the very best for the new year!   Hey Shell - we should plan a beach trip for 2011 too ;)

<3 Lisa

Just Ducky!

Hello All and Merry Christmas Eve!  I hope this Friday finds you well and with those you love :)  I am very happy to be spending the holidays in Indiana with my Mom and Dad and Shelly (my sister), Travis (bro-in law) and Lauren (much adored niece)!  There is nothing like the comfort of home and family.

So, I'm feeling pretty ducky :)  Which by the way, I googled to ensure it didn't mean something other than good things *giggle*.  It looks like I'm in the clear.  I used a New Release image from A Day For Daisies called "Four Baby Geese" (find them HERE).  It was nice to make a card this week that was something other than Christmas-related ;)  I used a My Mind's Eye pre-folded, double-sided card (Bohemia collection).  I am really liking these cards!  I'm typically a Bazzil or DCWV fan but the colors and textures of the MME cards are delish!  I paired it with some October Afternoon DP (Fly A Kite stack).  I am not sure where the flowers came from but the grosgrain yellow ribbon was left over from some craft supplies I bought to make my daughter's birthday party invites.  I ended up not even using it for them because I came up with a totally different idea than what I started with!  That's really typical for me so I have lots of little odds and ends that I'm sure sometime will come in handy!

My sister and I are heading out for some last minute Christmas Eve preparations.  I just love shopping in her town because they play Christmas music over the town church's speakers and everyone is so friendly; it's like a scene from an old movie :)  Merry Christmas Everyone!!
<3 Lisa

A Day For Daisies Challenge #8 - Tinsel & Tags!

***This is the second post for today!  Please scroll down to see the New Release images available NOW at  A Day For Daisies!***

It's time for another challenge at A Day for Daisies.com!  The theme for Challenge #8 is "Tinsel & Tags."  There's nothing better than tags and a little sparkle during the holiday season!  Let’s use both to make a festive card for this happy time of year!

This darling little fairy, "Little Winter Fairy" is just fluttering about sprinkling Christmas magic!  I have colored her with copics and added stardust Stickles to her candy-striped outfit.  The "halo" that surrounds her in her flight was made using holiday garland (it's called "snow"!).  I added sparkle to my card by using Doodlebug sugar glitter for the fairy sprinkles and a shiny gold bow.  The tag on the present is a Tim Holtz charm.

The challenge is open until January 6th, so please come play with us!

New Release Friday at A Day for Daisies!

Hi All and a Happy Friday to you! As you may know by now, Fridays are "new release day" for A Day For Daisies!  This week's releases are A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!!!  They are all pet-related and that's right up my alley :) 

This gorgeous image is called "Dolly," find her here.   It's colored with copics and in all sepia tones.  The bandana-printed paper comes from MS.  I used an MS punch for the scallop border along the paper and around the button.  The card is an A2 DCWV card.

Be sure to check out The other DT member's inspirations (links to their blogs are located to the right of my blog --->  )  ADFD DT has grown by two members!  We are really excited to have them join us and look forward to their wonderful creations!

Finally, I just wanted to let you all know that ADFD now has a group over at Papercraft Planet!  When we reach 300 members, Tammy will release an exclusive image collection just for members so please, head on over and join! :)

Let it Snow!

I sure wish we would get snow.  I don't want it to be treacherous or anything, just a thorough dusting would be nice!  My love of snow led to this card.  Heidi Grace has gorgeous shimmer paper with flocked snowflakes and it makes the perfect backdrop for this darling little penguin from Doodle Pantry (find him here).  He's colored with copics.  I used a Bazzill white A2 card and  Bazzill blue cardstock (from the earthtones stack) cut with Nestabilities curved rectangles.  I used Aleene's glitter snow for the penguin to sit in (have I mentioned I *love* that stuff?).  The ribbon is by Offray  and the bow is accented with a clear snowflake sticker (embellished with a MS rhinestone).  That gorgeous shimmer in my penguin's fur is actually the Cryogen white iridescent cardstock he is printed on!  It comes from Paper Temptress (here).  The small sticker sentiment -- O Winter, King of Intimate Delights -- comes from Susan Branch.    Soooo, let it snow (safely)!

A Day for Daisies New Releases!

Happy Friday everyone :)  and a happy Friday indeed considering it means another new batch of images from A Day For Daisies - Yippee!
This week's release is dedicated to pregnancy and they are divine!  I chose this darling princess, "A Royal Pain," and sweet "Vintage Baby Carriage."  Both images are colored with copics.  The timing of this release could not be better; I am planning two baby showers and I'm hoping to help out with a third since a co-worker just announced this week she was pregnant!

The set I made here is for a very special friend who loves purple so I used hues of lavender.  I just kept thinking how perfect and unique this digi is --what gal doesn't want to be a princess and what better time to pamper her than when she's expecting?  Come on by and check out the other images and the design team fabulous inspirations (links are located on the righthand side of my blog).  Oh and I another bit of great news - A Day For Daisies has now started a group at Paper Craft Planet!  There are some fun things going on over there so check it out!

Have a lovely weekend!
<3 Lisa

A Day For Daisies - New Releases AND a New Challenge!

Oh Fabulous Friday!  A Day For Daisies releases *new* images today AND it's the start of a *new* challenge!  My first card showcases one of Tammy's amazing mermaid images, Mermaid Child One.  A Day For Daisies mermaid images are my personal favorites.  I colored him with copics and the foam on the tide is Aleene's glitter snow.  I lightly brushed some Mudd Puddles sand paste here and there also.  The card is a Bazzill A2 and the frame is K&Company Life's Journey blue green damask printed paper and cut with Nesties Labels 10.

Now it's time for details and inspiration for the A Day for Daisies Challenge #7!  The theme is "It's All In the Wrapping."  Can you guess what you need to do?  Yes that's right - you need to use wrapping paper in your card design!  You know that package that's wrapped so perfectly, you can hardly imagine what's inside!? Take as much care in making your card as you would in executing a flawless wrap.  These cards will be so pretty it won’t matter what’s inside.  It’s all in the wrapping!  I chose to use Christmas wrapping paper but you can use any wrapping you choose.  I thought that an explosion box (tutorial from Splitcoaststampers here) was the perfect card design for this challenge!   I used red foil wrapping paper --on sale on JoAnn's for 99 cents -- and covered the outside of the "box."  Then, using my mini-Bowdabra and sheer gold ribbon, made a bow.  Then, by resizing ADFD digi, "Dressed up for Christmas," I created the To/From tag.  See, this is one of the huge benefits of working with digis - they can be resized to accommodate the project!   So now, here's the fun part  When you lift the lid, the walls of the box fall open and reveals another amazing A Day for Daisies digi, "A Special Gift!"  The star is mounted on  piece of acetate so it stays suspended over Mary & Baby. 

For more inspiration, check out the other design team inspirations (links are on the right side of my blog).  Come play along with us!

We are really close to hitting the 200 member mark CDAC so if you haven't joined yet, please come on by! There will be an exclusive image given to the first 200 members and I know it will be wonderful!

<3 Lisa

I Got An Award!

I met some wonderful fellow bloggers during the Operation Write Home Be My Valentines Blog Hop and one of those wonderful ladies, njgramma from Grammie's Craft Room, honored me today by passing along the "Stylish blogger Award" to me.  How lovely!!  Thank you so much for thinking of me!

So, in accepting this award, I have a few duties to fulfill:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this
2. Share 8 things about yourself
3. Pay it forward to 8 bloggers that you have recently discovered
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards.
***
So, I'll start with the 8 things about me:  #1 - I share my craft room with one particularly aloof and much adored Himalayan-mix cat, LilyBelle:

2.  I am a big fan of horror movies and used to attend horror movie conventions where I met (have pics & autographs to prove it - ;) Linda Blair, Bruce Campbell, Dee Wallace Stone, Danny Trejo, Sid Haig,   George A. Romero ..oh I could go on...but I've bored you enough - ha! ha!

3. My favorite color is pink

4.  I *love* to plan parties, weddings, baby showers, but I rarely host parties for myself.

5.  I have a phobia of open water

6.  I *love* Indian food

7.  I did not see the ocean until I was 25 - that was just last year - *JOKING*

8.  Fall is my favorite time of year but I love snow and I don't like the heat!

Now, for the pay-it-forwards!  I have had the pleasure of  "e-meeting" these talented women and have enjoyed their creations:

Samantha - http://expressionsofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/
Trina - http://trinamadethis.blogspot.com/
Cathy - http://www.bytheccreations.blogspot.com/
Jennifer - http://www.justcoffeepleasestampsribbonspaper.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://the-purple-place.blogspot.com/
Cat - http://www.catscrapfever.blogspot.com/
Candy - http://www.purplecardlady.blogspot.com/ 
Berenice - http://karbers.blogspot.com/ 

I apologize for being a day late on my post but the excitement of receiving the award and the sincerity I feel in paying it forward to the ladies above is not belated!  Thank you again, njgramma <3  Lisa