Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Every year seems to go by a little faster than the last, and before you know it, here we are again....ringing in a new year. Of course there are always "new years resolutions"...to loose weight, be healthier, get organized...those are a few of my favorites. I would love to hear yours!
My main goal this year...other than the ones I already listed is to get published...which means I have to actually submit something! To help me know what I should submit I would love to know: what was your favorite thing I have ever posted here on my blog?
Have a happy and safe New Years!

Thank You All

I want to thank everyone for entering to win my blog candy! I was amazed with all of your responses! Yesterday was my one year blog-anniversary. When I started this blog I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing, I just figured it out as I went along....and I had no idea how much I would enjoy it! It is such a pleasure to read your comments after a long day at work-it really is what inspires me to sit down & create something...in hopes of getting more comments!



I am happy to announce that Candace from Ontario, Canada is the winner of this blog candy giveaway. Candace please send me an e-mail with your address so I can send you package out.



I hope you all had a great holiday! I am packing up my Christmas stamps & getting ready to move on to Valentines day creations....it goes by so fast doesn't it! Well, I should have something new to show you in a day or two!

A Christmas Medley

Tonight I a sharing with you the last few glimpses of my Christmas this year. I had so many projects that I never got to...but I guess there is always next year.
I love vintage tags...and this one might be my favorite. Another couple of cards using my holly punch- Love this punch!

This is the Gingerbread house that is on display at the Guenther House in downtown San Antonio- it's amazing!

Below is a picture of the Gingerbread house that I made with my son last night. Making this little house makes me appreciate the one from the Guenther House even more!

You still have time to register for my blog candy giveaway! Just scroll down to the post titled "White Chocolate hot coa-coa & Blog Candy" for the details.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas as you celebrate with the ones you love!

A Joyfull Christmas

I am sharing with you a vintage card that I purchased at a local Antique Mall today!
I have examined the card and there is no copy wright mark or trademark anywhere to be found. Feel free to use it for your personal use. Just copy & paste it to a folder- and start (or add to) your collection of vintage images. These vintage images are what I have used on the tags that I made in the last post, and on some of the cards in previous posts. If you do make something using this image I would love to see it...so let me know...OK?

If you want to register to win my blog candy: Scroll Down to the post titled " White Chocolate hot coa-coa & Blog Candy" and leave your comment there. It is open untill December 25th Midinght!

Vintage Whimsy Tags

First I have to say that I am addicted to blog surfing! Recently I have found some great ones!

Elizabeth from Creative Breathing recently had a tag swap that inspired me to make all of these fun tags! I can't believe how fun it was - I made all of these on Sunday - and for me to complete 7 items in one day is an accomplishment! For some reason these came so easy...I didn't stress over layout, or sketches...I just had fun with them!

Don't Forget to get registered to win my blog candy!

See the post below for all the details!

White Chocolate hot coa-coa & Blog Candy

Ya know how when you are trying to hurry...every thing seems to go wrong? Well that is what happened tonight! I was determined to get this posted as promised by the end of the week...and I'm cutting it close! First I have a frappuccino bottle, that has been up-cycled into a little gift- perfect for this time of year. I used Cookbookin' papers & stamp, nesties, and ribbon to decorate the bottle. I actually wrote the little poem & printed them and the tag with instructions out.
Here is the recipe for the white chocolate hot co-coa. 1 1/2 cups skim powdered milk; 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 3/4 cup non dairy creamer (french vanilla) you can substitute for other flavors if you want; 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips. Mix dry ingredients together, then spoon 3 to 4 spoon fulls into mug & add hot water...you may need to add more mix if using a larger mug.

Now for the blog candy give away! You can enter to win by leaving a comment on this post. You will be entered twice if you let me know that you are a "follower" of my blog. For a third entry you can post a link back to my blog, on your blog announcing the blog candy. Be sure to let me know if you do this so I can make sure you are entered 3 times. I will leave this open until Christmas Day! On the 26th of Dec. I will put all the names

in a bowl-(checking to make sure how many times to enter each person)-and I will have my son draw out the winning name. Here is a picture of the goodies PLUS I will add some hand made things....like cards, tags, gifts, etc. This is open to anyone! Goodluck!

There are 4 punches, 4 wood mounted stamps, 4 clear stamp sets, a set of watercolor pencils in a carry case, 6 tags, 15 vintage images, ribbon, brads, pearls, & chipboard alphabet plus the handmade items that I will add as a suprise!

Old Fashioned Baby Carriage

This stamp by Heartfelt Creations is so beautiful and is perfect for making any type of baby card! My niece just recently had a baby girl, which was my inspiration for this card. The instructions for this card can be found on the Heartfelt Creations blog. I hope you can see the detail in the close up.

I wanted to say thanks to all of you who visit my blog, that hit counter just keeps on growing! I will be back before the end of the week with a blog candy announcement!

Simple & Small framed gifts

Hello and happy Saturday! I was so happy to sleep in today! I wanted to share with you these cute little framed gifts that were so simple to make. The frames are from the 99 cents store, and look exactly like first picture (meaning they are allredy whitewashed distressed) They had chickens & roosters in the frames when I bought them (that I thought were hideously ugly) I took them out & used designer paper, the Holly punch, and buttons on the first one. The "Noel" is from a bag of buttons & little plastic things that I found at Hobby Lobby. This only took me like 10 minuets to make. On the frame below I used distress inks and a sponge (antitue linen & tea dye) to change the white to more of an ivory with brownish tones. I found the little sleeping angel by googling "images" and typed in "vintage cherub"

I am getting together a Blog candy prize to photograph & announce next week, so be sure to check back soon!

Framed Merry Christmas

I don't know about yall, but have definatley been getting into the holiday mood latley! Christmas is my favorite time of year & I love making gifts! This piece is made using a stamp from Heartfelt Creations (Merry Christmas 718E) You can find my instructions Here at the Heartfelt Creations blog. I don't think the sparkles from the stickles showed up in the first picture, so here is a close up.

The frame is 6 X 6 and was a bargain at .75 cents! I got it from my friend Yuki....she probably wants it back now ;)

I am trying to find every spare moment to get all my ideas turned into finished projects! Thanks for stopping by!

SnowFlake Wreath

This is my second attempt at making a Holiday wreath. I started with the wreath base that I painted, then added lots of ribbons. The snowflakes are made using a combination of punches, spellbinders dies and Martha Stewart glitter. I used pop dots in the layering to add dimension and they are topped with a rhinestone. This one really sparkles! I think I have a fascination with snowflakes because we pretty much NEVER get snow here in San Antonio, TX

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am going back to working full time, and I don't know how much time I am going to have to create new projects & teach classes! I would love to hear any time management ideas you might have for me!

Paper Flower Wreath

This was a fun project to make. I punched out lots of flowers from several different pattered papers, layered them, and used a brad to secure them. I used a wreath base from Michael's, that I glued the ribbons to, then glued the flowers over them. I added in some jingle bells & some berries from a floral pick. I am taking this one to work with me to hang in my office. I have plans to make some more....if I can squeeze them into my small amount of free time!

Candy Cane

Today I have a card I made for Heartfelt Creations. You can find all the details for this card at their blog. They are debuting their new "amped up" web site this week so be sure to check it out! I can't believe how fast time is flying by! I have so many ideas for projects that I want to make, but finding the time is getting harder & harder. I know you all know exactly what I mean, I just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to stop by & leaving me a comment! I will have another project to show you before the end of the week!

Vintage Santa

Here is a card I made last night using an image that I found on Google. I searched "vintage Santa" under Google images. I did a lot of distressing & sponging on the edges using Tea dye distress ink. The striped paper is Basic Grey Wassail collection, it is double sided and I used the opposite side for the red matting of the photo. The sheet music paper is by The Paper Studio. All the little extras that I added such as lace, ribbon, croched flower, button, and punched pine & holly finished it off.

I have classes to teach tonight, Saturday and Sunday so I gotta lotta preparation to do! I had a dream last night that I was teaching a class, and I had forgotten some of the main of the supplies needed & it was horrible! That might be an anxiety dream! Yikes!

I received a blog award “Your Blog is Over The Top” from Gvendalen, she is from Russia...how cool is that? Thank you very much Gvendalen!

This award comes with a quiz.

1. Where is your cell phone? in my pocket

2. Your hair? long

3. Your mother? I have 2 moms-1 is in Heaven, 1 is in Dallas, TX

4. Your father? Hydro, Oklahoma probably nappin in his favorite chair :)

5. Your fave food? chocolate

6. Your dream last night? I hardley ever remember dreams

7. Your fave drink? Jasmine Tea

8. Your dream/goal? I would love to travel & teach classes & be published

9. What room are you in? my "kitchen studio"

10. Your hobby? Making cards is all I have time for but I love embroidry work too

11. Your fear? Nothing to fear, but fear it's self!

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here, but with more time to travel & teach & design

13. Where you were last night? Right here

14. Something that you aren’t? Bored

15. Muffins? Not sure what this means????

16. Wish List Item? A real studio

17. Where did you grow up? Garland, TX

18. Last thing you did? Just got home from working

19. What are you wearing? Scrubs

20. Your TV? True Blood, 24, NCIS

21. Your Pets? mini Dachsund

22. Friends? Can never have too many!

23. Your Life? Fabulous

24. Your Mood? happy, but tired...it was a long day at work

25. Missing Someone? My sister Sandy!

26. Vehicle? gets me from point A, to pointB

27. Something your not wearing? perfume...my hubby hates it!

28. Your fave store? I love antique stores & small boutiques- and craft stores of all kinds!

29. Your fave color? I would have to say a print, not a solid color

30. Last time you laughed? I laughed alot yesterday with my co-worker

31. Last time you cried? When I had a screaming match with my daughter a week or so ago

32. Your best friend? Husband

33. One place that I go to over and over? work- go figure?

34. One person who emails regularly? I would have to say the junk mailers

35. Fave place to eat? Tong's Tai on Austin Hwy..yum

36. Facebook? Yes Lisa Phillippi ....so friend request me!
I choose five people to pass this Award on to:

Patty Jo

Yvonne

Marion

Olga

Joanne Travis

Holly Wreath

Here is a pretty simple wreath using the holly punch. The picture isn't great, but I used pink rhinestones for berries. The striped panel is fabric that I ironed the fuse-able webbing to, then cut. Then I ironed it to the paper before I stitched with my sewing machine.
I gotta keep this short today because I am teaching a class tomorrow & need to get the kits ready. If any of you are interested in buying kits like I make for classes I have some available.
E-mail me at LLELSIK@AOL.COM or leave me a comment with how to contact you.
Have a great weekend!

A Blessed Christmas

Today I have a card that I made for Heartfelt Creations

I used "A Blessed Christmas" #979E - I Love the old fashioned look of this sentiment!

I colored the stamp with my marvy le plume markers and stamped on to cream card stock. I used nestabilities labels 1 & distressed the edges & sponged with distress inks. I punched the holly and sponged the edges, then glued buttons & holly in place. The designer paper is by Flair Designs from a Christmas Kit. The horizontal stripe is layered with a strip of cream cards stock (distressed & sponged) then olive grosgrain ribbon, then the velveteen rick rack . The finished card is about 5 X 5

Hope you are having a great week so far!

Gingerbread Cards

I was so inspired by a recent post at Debbie Olsen's Blog Thinking Inking that I made my first spinner card. She has a great tutorial Here. This is so much better in person because he spins & twirls from one end to the other. It's like a toy, you just keep playing with it & don't want to put it down! If you haven't ever made one it is not hard- I just followed the steps on the tutorial- and you will be amazed when you are finished!

The card below was also inspired by one of Debbie's. You can see hers here. The gingerbread man used on both of these cards is from the Holiday Button Bits set by Papertrey Ink. I love this set! Thanks Debbie for the inspiration & for allowing me to add you to my favorite's list in my sidebar.

I can't believe it is November! Christmas will be here in a blink! I know that this time of year we all stay super busy, so I especially appreciate you stopping by & leaving me a comment!

Pink Poinsettia

For some reason I have really been playing with non-traditional Christmas colors this year. It's funny, when I started this card I had no idea it was going to end up like you see it ~but I'm glad it did! My original plan was to use to use a different designer paper, but my flower didn't match.... so I chose this instead. It turned out for the best I think! I used nestabilities labels 1 & the paper is "Ooh La La" by My Mind's Eye.

Thanks for stopping by & I would love to hear your comments!

Holly with Button Berries

I have been having fun playing with the new Holiday Button Bits set from Papertrey. Each card is basically the same sketch. I picked out the buttons first, and let that determine the different color combinations.

I used Nestabilites Labels 1 on all of these cards. The finished size of all of them are 5 X 5 .

Hope you like them and I would love to hear which one is your favorite!