BANANAS!

Hello Friends!  It has been B-A-N-A-N-A-S around here!  Work has been crazy, Dan and I have been painting like crazy...whew!  I even missed my post last week :(  (because it rained like crazy and caused flash flooding - scary) BUT I'm on the ball this week and when I saw Tammy's Banana Fairy (and banana bunch!) I had to play with them! :)  These darling images are new releases this week *and* there is a new A Day For Daisies challenge -- the challenge is to create a beverage-related gift.   Tammy has created some precious teacup fairy images as part of this week's release, also, so you will definitely want to check them out!

My best friend, Rhonda, and I work together so at least we have each other to lean on during this super-busy time at work.  We try to do nice little things for each other -- Rhonda will bring me pumpkin spice coffee and I'll treat for lunch and vice versa -- anything to bolster our spirit and make the best out of the stress!  So this gift was made with her in mind -- that and when work makes us BaNaNaS - we're going to make Smoothies from them - LOL!  I paper-pieced the banana and colored the fairy with copics.  I gave her wings a thick coat of Stickles and then cut out the entire image and mounted it on a felt circle.  The recipe card was computer-generated.  Since the mug is the gift (when you bring it to the smoothie place, you receive a discount on their smoothies!) I wanted to put a bow on it but dressed it up by adding a wine glass charm made from a hoop earring, plastic beads and a shrink plastic banana charm using Tammy's banana bunch image!

Have a wonderful FRIDAY!!!
 <3 Lisa

A little Christmas...

Hello Everyone!  I'm sorry it's been so quiet here in the Land of Encraftment but I have been a maniac around the house with painting!  Now that my sunroom is completely done, and the backsplash is up in the kitchen, I wanted to have it painted before posting the pics here!  Plus, it is the super busy time of the year at work so it's been crazy :)

Now, on to my A Day For Daisies project this week...Tammy has created some absolutely wonderful Christmas images!  I used "Holly Dance" and created a brooch to wear on my winter coat.  I colored the image with copics and did some paper-piecing too; then embellished with Stickles and adhesive gems.  I glued a pin bar on the back (you can buy them at the Michael's) and then dipped the image in UTEE!  Please be sure to check out the other design team's creations as they are spectacular!

Happy Halloween! I'm just practicing...

...for Fall because I am ready for it ;)  Luckily A Day For Daisies' new releases this week are all about Halloween - YaY!  I've used "Miss Star Witch" and I'm featuring her on my treat/luminary box.  I modified a 2-5-7-10 box and added 1/2" fold at the top to hold the crepe paper ruffle.  I just love the look of vintage Halloween items and so I tried to make mine look like them.  I used white crepe paper and colored it with a yellow Bic Mark It marker; I have used copics also but since I wasn't doing any blending and wanted just a bright yellow, I used the Bic markers (ink is much cheaper ;)  I used a Martha Stewart punch anywhere punch and then laying wax paper behind the punched area, I filled in the stars with Glossy Accents.  After it dried, I cover the stars with a light coating of Stickles.  They really look so cool when the box is lit up (using a floral spot light taped inside the bottom of the box)!  I am really ready for Fall; it is my all-time favorite time of year. 

Happy Crafting! <3 Lisa

New ADFD Challenge - SECRET ingredients!

There's a new Challenge starting today at A Day For Daisies, and it's a challenge with a fun twist!  There are "Secret ingredients" each of the design used and you will need to discover what they are and use them in your card!  Isn't that fun!?   But sure to click on my pic so you can examine it closely ;)

My card features new release image, "Water Play," and she is colored with copics.  I created the ocean water this little sweetie is splashing in by mixing Pearl Ex with Glossy Accents, Glitter Snow (for a little foam) and Mudd Puddles sand paste.  The paper is from Cloud Nine Designs called Sea Side.  So have you guessed what the SECRET ingredients are yet!?  Be sure to visit the blogs of my fellow DT members  (there are links on the side of my blog!)  Our July Guest Designer, Audrey (aka Hippieaud) is in on it too :)  So you will want to visit her blog too!

Good Luck!

I also wanted to let you know about a wonderful interview with Tammy - the artist behind A Day For Daisies - on Janna's Blog (fellow DT member!).  It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about Tammy and her inspirations (and a peek into her creative space!!).  You will definitely want to check it out!

Happy Crafting! <3 Lisa

Sweet Summer Blog Hop from A Day For Daisies!

It's HERE!

Hello All and welcome to the A Day for Daisies Sweet Summer Blog Hop.

If you have arrived from JenLee's  blog then you are in the right place!  Participants have a week to hop and be sure to leave a comment on each  blog to qualify for the grand prize -- July's Club KIT!!   

The challenge was to use 2 or 3 images from one of Tammy's collection and create 3 different projects.  My images came from the Triple Scoop Collection.

Gift Card Holder - Pansy Sundae

Party Favor Box - Daisy Cone

Card - Butterfly Cone

This was a lot of fun and I do hope you will play along!  Tammy has 2 freebies available to get you started and for sharing your 3 projects, you have a chance at a $12 gift certificate to the shop!    So, your next stop is our Guest Designer this month:  Audrey's Blog!  

Just to keep track, here is the Blog Hop Listing:

sherryann

Vera

Arielle

Candy
Janna

JenLee

Lisa

Audrey

HAPPY HOPPING!

New and Wonderous Things...

A new challenge begins today at A Day For Daisies and it is to use a digi in a brand new-to-you way.  I wanted to try my hand at coloring on fabric with my copics.  I had some plain white Onesies left over from one of the diaper cakes I made this year so I laundered them and got to work.
I used Tammy's, "New Things," digi  (it's a new release available today AND it's this week's $2 dollar deal!).  I cropped and sized a portion of the image and printed it onto plain computer paper.  I cut out the image and taped it to my light box:  

Next, I pulled the Onesie over the light box and position it over the image: 

Using a copic multiliner, I traced the image onto the fabric: 

Finally, I colored with my copics.  I noticed that the fabric will absorb the ink quickly and it was easy to over saturate it which would make the ink bleed outside the lines.  I found if I just blotted color onto the image working from the middle of the image outward and not quite to the lines, it was much easier to keep the ink from bleeding.  I used my heat gun frequently as I went along to dry the ink which also helped.  If you notice, the purple flower (my first attempt) bled outside the lines:


but as I experimented with the blotting and drying, by the time I made the last onesie (pink flower), there was hardly any bleeding at all: 

I made the box they are displayed in using my Cricut and the Tags, Boxes, Bags & More cartridge (matchbox cut, fit to page) and made a card to complete the set.

So, what new technique will you come up!?  I sure hope you'll give it a try and enter the challenge at A Day For Daisies.  You will want to check out the other inspiration from the ADFD Design Team too :)  Happy Crafting, <3 Lisa

***Edited to ADD - I noticed that the post on A Day For Daisies indicated I used copics to color iron-ons and wanted to clarify that I did NOT use any type iron-on product.  The t-shirt iron-on sheets you can put through your printer cannot be used with your copics because it will ruin the marker nibs!  This is why I opted to trace the image :) ***

Black, White and Pop of Color Challenge at A Day for Daisies!

I was able to try a new technique this week with the new challenge at A Day For Daisies -- coloring an image black and white.  Challenge 19 begins today and all you have to do is use black and white...and one other color with an A Day For Daisies image.  I have taken Suzanne Dean's copic classes and she teaches the technique but I hadn't really used it yet. This was the perfect opportunity!  My pop of color ended up being red --inspired by the name of my image, "Red Lady" and she is one of the beautiful new portrait releases at A Day For Daisies today. Here are the other fabulous images available today:

I am looking forward to the long weekend and plan to do lots more coloring :)  Happy Friday, <3 Lisa

Oh Baby!

That's the theme this week at A Day For Daisies!  The new releases are either babies or mommy's with babies!  Perfect because a new challenge begins today, too, and the theme - yes, you guessed it - "Oh Baby!"  Here are the details:  

Everyone loves a baby so let's get sentimental together.  Show us your best baby design including a sentiment that melts your (and everyone's) heart!  

So I think by now you all know that baby cards are my all time favorite cards to make so I am so excited about this new Challenge.  I chose Tammy's "Tummy Time" (try saying that three times really fast *giggle*) because of that darling little face!  It doesn't matter what heart-melting sentiment I used because no one will even notice the sentiment with that innocent, sweet face staring up at you right!?  But at least my sentiment fits because this little doll is definitely a "Bundle of Love."

I am also entering my card in another challenge.  I  wanted to "Get Dimensional with Donna Mundinger" so I got up my nerve and attempted to create a card with dimension like Donna!  Of course, NO BODY does dimension like the Divine Ms. M (really, check out her blog, Popsicle Toes, and you'll see what I mean!) but it was a lot of fun trying.  I started with an easel card.  Then, I printed my image twice - once on copic-friendly cardstock and again on PP.  I used the cardstock image as the base and once I had colored it up, I cut out the baby's pajamas from the PP.  I strategically glued pieces of foam under the pajamas and used pop dots to give an additional 3-D effect on just the baby.  Using my Cricut and new cartridge, Elegant Edges, I cut two card stock layers of Hearts 2 (1 base and 1 frame) and then I cut one frame layer and one square of Creatology Fun Foam and layered in this order:  foam square, heart frame CS base, image (fussy cut and mounted on textured DP),  foam frame, heart CS frame.  Here is a pic of the card from the side:

So there you have it, my attempt at a baby-themed dimensional card.  Now, let's get to the other amazing images available today.  They are just so tender and beautiful!

Tammy always features one of the new images for half price so be sure to check them out on the website or at CDAC, etc (links are located on the side of my blog.   I sure hope you will give the baby challenge a try!  Have a wonderful Friday!  <3  Lisa

Kissing Frogs...

Well, we've all be there, eh?  LOL.  Oh I am so excited about this week's A Day For Daisies new releases!  They are part of  A Day For Daisies'  Fairy Tale series (check out The Club!) and they are all PRINCESSES...and a few frogs :)  I used "Promises, Promises," for my inspiration this week.   She is colored with copics and accented with a Sakura yellow Glaze pen (hair) and a gold Gellyroll pen (crown & buttons). The little frog was paper- pieced because I wanted a green plaid frog *giggle* --so using printed paper from DCWV Blossoms and Butterflies stack I printed out my little frog on green plaid cardstock and fussy-cut him out.  His warts received a coat of Smooch green apple paint and then I gave him an overall coat of Glossy Accents so he would look, well, slimy- ha!  The card is of course Bazzill card stock.  I have made lots of cards with digital images sized small to medium but for this beauty, I wanted her nearly as large as my card - another super benefit of using a digi stamp - custom sizing!
Here are the other new releases available TODAY:

There is still time to enter the A Day For Daisies Challenge #16 - Dots & Stripes and we would love to have you play along and to see what you can create with an A Day For Daisies image! 
Have a wonderful Friday! <3 Lisa