My Top 10 Favorite Creations for 2016

The idea to post my Top Ten Favorite 2016 creations comes from a very talented, sweet lady Karine Gagnon . What a novel idea to test myself with this!  Since I love everything I create, to some degree, I was a little apprehensive at first, but in the end I was able to pick out ten personal favorites rather quickly.....
however, I'm unable to pick my very most favorite of the year because I have several. : )

In order by creation date here are my 2016 Top 10 faves with links to original detailed posts:

BFF Easel Card - 
I consider this my first easel card. It has very special meaning in my heart because I made it for my very best friend of 41 years - Carmel.  She is my sister at heart, my earthly angel & I love her to the depth of my soul. 

Sniffs of Spring - 

This one brings joyful memories and big smiles watching my little Lucy close her eyes and raise her nose to sniff the air as she sat at the open window on a breezy, beautiful Spring day!

Until one has loved an animal - 
This one is self-explanatory.  It brings out joy and heartache all at once because there is nothing in the world like loving an animal and being loved by them in return. The emotion it evokes is just remarkable.  Thanks to my sweet friend Carrie for sharing this wonderful Pinterest photo with me!

You Melt my Heart - 

Capturing Lucy's striking eyes in the right light is always such a gift! She seems to look right through to your soul.  This layout has been my FaceBook cover since it was created. I plan to keep it there quite a long time >^..^<  

Portrait of Lucy - 

Lucy's pose is awesomely perfect!  I ADORE this photo of her.  

Pepper - Then & Now  - 

My little "Pepperoni", "P-Baby", "Crazy"....what a sweet little dog.  She turned 12 in 2016.  We love her to death!

Portrait of Galadrial - 

Any time I'm able to capture Miss Gali with her eyes open wide, I consider that photo a keepsake treasure!  She is such a gorgeous, timid and loving cat.   

Feeding the Pigeons in Venice - June 2000  - 

How wonderful to be able to catch a pigeon just beginning to land on Brianne's (my daughter) hand to feed!  I am especially happy that I was able to mimic the brick and stone in the photo!  The terracotta and blue tones look great together!

Pretty as a Rose - 

I am so very proud to have had such a beautiful mother.  I'm so pleased with my handmade frame and how all of the colors coordinated so well together!

Butterfly - 

This last creation in 2016 exhilarates me!  The color combination is spectacular and I'm very partial to butterflies.  I'm a purple-holic so entering this in a challenge with an outrageously gorgeous color scheme of purples, black, grays, white drew me right in!

Thank you for dropping by and I hope you all have a very Happy, Healthy & Loving New Year in 2017. Lisa : )

Butterfly

I created a canvas layout solely to enter in The Dusty Attic December 2016 Mood Board Challenge!  

Purple in any shade or tone is my very most favorite color, so this mood board was extra inspirational for me!  

I chose to make butterflies the centerpiece because they are among natures most natural beauties. 

I used varying tones of purple and included gray, silver, white and black.  

What a fabulous color combination of this moodboard! WOW! 

http://dustyatticblog.blogspot.com.au/

My 12 x 12 white canvas board was prepped with clear gesso; then randomly sprayed with Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst color Tea Pot Purple. I love its lavender tone! Finnabair Antique Silver Crackle Texture Paste was used to strategically stencil a small floral design on the layout.  Lavender rhinestones were added to the stenciling.

My design includes cut pieces from The Dusty Attic 12x12 Geometric Panel. 

These pieces were gesso prepped and then heat embossed with Lindy's Stamp Gang color Silver Moon Orchid.  

It's a beautiful silver-gray that has a lavender shimmer to it.  

(Just as I linked it I noticed that they are retiring this color - phooey!!!)  

I started first by gluing on these pieces according to my design.

The Dusty Attic Monarch Butterflies set is truly magnificent with perfect wing details of this type of butterfly.  

I first heat embossed the middle sized butterfly in the set (approx. 2"x2") 

using a gorgeous deep black/purple - Lindy's color Midnight Violet. 

I glued a backing behind the butterfly so mini prills could be added inside the wing design cut outs.  

This made a beautifully stunning butterfly embellishment! 

I twice sprayed this piece with low odor Krylon Clear Matte Finish to seal the prills in place.  

Once my photos (stunning photo found on Pinterest) were adhered, 

I was ready for my favorite part of designing....the flower arrangements!  

They are made up of gorgeous Wild Orchid Crafts mulberry flowers & a few bead berry sprays, 

along with die cut leaves in Jet Black Specialty glittery paper.

Enjoy viewing the close up photos of these arrangements : )

Thanks so very much for your visit and please come again!

Happy New Year!  Lisa : )

Products used:

The Dusty Attic - 

Geometric Panel

Monarch Butterflies

US Artquest - Mini Prills - Rock & Roll collection - Plum Crazy

Prima 6x6 Stencil - Tubaroses

Prima - Finnabair artExtravagance Silver Antique Crackle Texture Paste

Tattered Lace Dies - Ornate Leaves

Wild Orchid Crafts - 

2-tone Lilac Gysophila

Jet Black Open Roses-20mm

Purple Open Roses - 20mm

Purple Mix Cottage Roses - 30mm

Silver Bead Berry Spray

Purple Bead Berry Spray

Lindy's Stamp Gang - 

   Starburst spray - Tea Pot Purple

   Embossing Powders - Midnight Violet & Silver Moon Orchid

Michael's - 

   Recollections lavender rhinestones 

   Jet Black specialty glittery paper

   Krylon Low Odor Clear Matte Finish

Joy - a card for the More Than Words mini challenge

Hi everyone!  I made a 6x6 card for the More Than Words mini challenge and the word to use is "Joy".  

As 2016 comes to a close and we look for a brighter future in 2017, 

I can definitely relate with this word because if you just look around, 

there is always joy to be found!

Here is my card:

Maja Design Nyhavn collection set the tone for the color palette of gray and pink.  

Its pattern enticed me to apply diamond shaped silver bling with gray pearls in between.

I acrylic painted the Want2Scrap chipboard word 'Joy' in Gunmetal Metallic Gray, 

then made the decision to create a hanging ornament with it.
After cutting a circle, I decorated the diameter edge with silver Stickles.
The word was centered and some clear mini bling was randomly adhered.

After making the pink pearl strand for the ornament, 

I used the same design in varying lengths below the floral arrangement.  

I also made some dainty hat pins with pink & silver beads to place with the flowers.

Using my most favorite die, I cut rose leaves in the same Maja Design papers.

Lindy's Stamp Gang Glitz Spritz in Scintillating Silver made the beautiful Wild Orchid Crafts cottage roses shine!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!  Lisa : )

Products used:

Maja Design - Nyhavn Collection - Strolling along the Canal

Front side

Backside

Tattered Lace dies - Ornate Leaves

Prima Flowers - Gillian Cinder

Wild Orchid Crafts flowers - Pink Mist Cottage Roses (25mm)

Want2 Scrap chipboard word - Joy
Lindy's Stamp Gang - Glitz Spritz spray - Scintillating Silver
Ranger - Stickles - Silver
ColorBox Pigment inks - Shabby Pink & wild Hare
Michael's - Head Pins, Beads, Clear Rhinestones, Silver Glass Beads, Gunmetal Gray Metallic Acrylic Paint

Reindeer Shaker Card for Christmas 2016

WOW!  So hard to believe that another year has gone by and it's time to make Christmas cards again! 

This is the 2nd year that I have designed & handcrafted Christmas cards to send to a few special people.  

It's challenging and so much fun to create my own design. 

 

I made 15 cards in 'assembly line' fashion, taking one step and applying it to all of the cards, 

then moving to the next step and so on.    

Shaker cards are made in different ways using different techniques, 
so let me show you how I created mine.

Step 1 - gathering all supplies & computer printing:



All supplies are pre-cut & ready for assembly.

Computer printing is done first; then embossing of snowflake stamps

A dated sentiment is printed on the backside

Step 2 - preparing the top decorative piece for the shaker:

 Pre-cut squares of acetate are glued in place on the backside and are centered over the circle die cut area. This is the window for the shaker part.

 All rings are adhered to the front side.  These are die cut using two circle dies placed one inside the other, hence producing a ring.




The shaker part of the circle die cut has to be lined with foam tape to keep the goodies inside. 
The rest of the card below the circle needs foam tape to make it the same height as the shaker part.

Step 3 - Adhering & decorating a background center focal point:

An artistic swirly Christmas tree was printed on white cardstock; cut to size;
then adhered to become the focal point inside the shaker part of the card. 
Tiny red pearls were used as ornaments on the tree.

Step 4 - adhering & leaving room to add glittery goodies:

I adhered my decorative piece to the front of the card, leaving a small area of foam tape with
its backing still on so it would not adhere to the card, allowing goodies to be added inside. 
I did this by pouring the goodies from a paper cup through the small opening. 
Once they were added, I removed the backing from the foam tape using my tweezers and then sealed it tight.

Step 5 - Bow Embellishment: 

I made cute bows by hand with some wired tinsel ribbon to decorate the top of the circle shaker.    

ok - now this is hilarious....and absolutely must be shared with you!
My cute little bows kept mysteriously 'disappearing' from my scrap table! 

I soon found out that my kitty, Lucy (aka "Lucy The Bad") was stealing them to use as play things

and also to place them in her most favorite hiding spot.....

the water bowl!  LOL!!
Ok, maybe just 'cat people' will understand this >^..^<

Final Step 6 - Adhering the pretty reindeer die cut to the card:

Here are some close ups -  

Thanks for visiting...and have an especially wonderful Holiday Season!

Merry Christmas!  Lisa : )

 

Products used:

Michael's - Glitter Swirly Cardstock; teal blue & red cardstock; Silver Tinsel embossing powder
Hobby Lobby - Red wired tinsel ribbon
Scor-Tape 
Elmer's Foam Mounting Tape
Gary M. Burlin & Co. 7" x 9" acetate sheets
Want2Scrap - Red Baby Pearls

BoBunny clear stamps -

Midnight Frost

Powder Mountain

Spellbinders dies - Holiday Reindeer & Sleigh

Spellbinders dies - Standard Large Circles