hang in there {lawn fawn inspiration week}

On the last day of lawn fawn's june inspiration week, we're re-visiting sets that have been given new coordinating dies: critters in the burbs, critters on the farm, plus one, and critters down under.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to craft with the tree-hugging koala.

I made a card almost 2 years ago with this koala, and I can't believe I hand-cut everything like a chump, but it's still one of my favorite cards.  It's one that got me noticed by lawn fawn, and I'd like to think it started me toward my spot on this amazing team.  click *here* to see it.

But today.

It's all about celebrating the awesome laziness and perfection that comes with owning matching dies:



I started out with a white panel of cardstock, on which I stamped and masked and masked and stamped to get a nice layer of trees. Oh, and before all of that stamping/masking, I put down a post-it-strip across both the top and bottom of the panel. Do you see how the tree bottoms are cut off? I love doing that - it makes it look like a print instead of a homey-homemade card, especially because I added a wash of blue around the trees in between the post-it-strips.

Once I was happy with the trees (are you saying "happy little trees" now? I am. ha. I used to watch that painting show all the time as a kid) I then popped the koala on there. I adhered the bottom of the tree directly onto the cardstock, lining it up with the stamped trees, but using a foam dimensional under the koala.



I stamped the custom sentiment using Milo's abcs.

I hope you like it! There's more to see on the lawn fawn blog today!

♥.

snappy valentine {a paper crafts magazine publication}

 Are you a paper crafts magazine online subscriber?  If you are,  you've likely seen this snappy project in the current issue.  It isn't in the paper pages - it's an online exclusive!

I printed the sentiment via my computer, and added a sunburst image (from Wplus9) to my valentine-themed patterned paper.  The only time-consuming part was cutting out all of the snappy lawn fawn crocodiles - but totally worth it!  They're a cute 3x3 size, and perfect for the kids to hand out to their school friends for valentine's day.  For fun, the cards were packaged in a fun little box (CSS' party favor 3 die.)

Thanks for stopping by!

lawn fawn {hearts} me!

yes, I'm tooting my own horn! Awhile back, I won a lawn fawn contest with this card:

After that, Kelly Marie asked if I would create 2 new cards for her to feature on the lawn fawn blog:

Click over to the lawn fawn blog to read more details of what went into the making of these cards!

The 10 minute craft dash!

The very sweet Paulina asked if I would like to be part of a new challenge: the 10 minute craft dash.  My first thought was: does she know how long it takes me to make a card?  I am a slooooooooow crafter.  When I write things like: this only took me 20 minutes, it's because I have surprised myself with my quickness :)  But 10 minutes to make a card is no joke.  I felt like I was on an episode of craft wars... but without Tori Spelling in my room, thank goodness.

I gathered all of my supplies, had a clear picture of what I wanted to do (because, how do you whip up a card in 10 minutes if you have no plan) and came up with this:

A water-colored koala (from lawn fawn's "critters down under") was the quickest way to go, I promise.  Here is how I managed this card within 11 minutes (eeep, I couldn't even finish on time, ha ha):

minute 1: stamp koala image and the sentiment (from paper smooches) in versafine onyx black ink onto white cardstock.

minute 2: create card base, while black ink dries slightly.  Ready the aqua painter (a watercolor brush with a  built-in water-barrel - mine is from SU)

minutes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7: with all the inks spread out, watercolor.  No time for shading!  The watercolor brush is so quick - I keep a paper towel to the side, and simply brush the color away when I want to move on to the next one.

minute 8: grab a yellow water-color crayon, and, using the same aqua-painter, flick splatters onto the cardstock.

minute 9: emboss white cardstock with PTI's linen & canvas impression plate.  Never mind that the cardstock is still a bit wet from the painting - it actually helps create a deeper impression.

minute 10: use a liquid glue to secure the koala mat to the card-base.  Press down everywhere, since the card-stock is still a bit warped and wet (hee hee).  When everything is adhered, it looks just perfect.

minute 11: make a bonus, last minute decision to tie on some white yarn that was left out from a previous project.

The adrenaline was pumping, but I got 'er done :)

I hope you play along!  You have until August 25th, and there is a sweet twiney prize up for grabs:

Check out Paulina's blog for more details and a complete list of participants!

Lawnscaping Challenge #37: use dimension

This is my 2nd post today - click *here* to see the new stamp set released by Precious Remembrance!

I'm so excited to be making my debut with Lawnscaping today!

Our sponsor for this challenge is Simon Says Stamp: you could win a 25$ gift certificate to their store.

We're challenging you to "use dimension."  I did it here by cutting out a few of the trees from "critters down under" and nestling the cute koala within the branches.  You can really see the dimension in the top photo - I purposefully didn't glue down the leaves... only the tree trunks...

If you look closely, you'll also see that I created a different kind of dimension: I masked the koala on my base layer, and stamped the tree to his left, and then masked the koala and the tree to be able to stamp the circular image in behind.  I love masking - it's a great way to add dimension without the bulk!  

ps, the clouds are from lawn fawn's "sunny skies," and the sentiment is from "you've got mail."  A strip of checked washi tap on the left finishes off my card.

I hope you like my dimension-2-ways card, and I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Hoppy birthday!

The lawnscaping gals are doing a little birthday hop in honor of Vera's birthday today - happy birthday, Vera!

What's more fitting for a blog HOP, than a hopping kangaroo?  *groans all around*

 I stamped, colored and cut out the kangaroo from lawn fawn's "critters down under," and stuck him onto a tag.  The grass and the speech bubble were cut using MFT dies.  I sponged the baking doily with an orange ink, versamarked the hero arts clouds background, and finished off the tag with some soft yarn.

Thanks for "hopping" on over *groans again*

For a full list of the participants, click back to the lawnscaping blog.

ps, I realize that my posting has suddenly become a bit more sporadic - I blame Gallery Idol, and my new DT positions.... it's so different when you can't share what you've been crafting right away!  I can't wait to start showing you more new stuff next week :)

designing with lawnscaping.

Hi all!

I'm beyond thrilled to have landed a spot as a regular designer for the lawnscaping challenge blog!  Y'all know (see, so excited that I'm talking southern) how much I love my lawn fawn stamps... I think it's a perfect fit.

Check out Laurel's big announcement on the lawnscaping blog!

Even though the new girls are only starting in July, I thought I'd share a card I made just for my sister:

A little back-story:  I had absolutely no idea what sentiment to pair with the platypus image from "critters down under."  A google-search later, I found out that discoverers couldn't believe such an animal even existed, and that the platypus is seriously the weirdest looking animal ever.  After mulling over some other sentiments, like "be unique," or "it's okay to be different," I got a call from my sister.  She and her husband are in the midst of a whole-house-renovation.  And little things keep going wrong.  But, there was a problem with the staining of their hardwood floors that had her sounding so stressed.  I thought a funny card would help brighten their day :)  Funny to me, anyways!

Have a great day, and see you back here tomorrow afternoon for my next Gallery Idol project!