Recovering and Honors!

 Hello from the land of convalescence!  I am 13 days post op from having my gallbladder removed.  Besides popping and internal stitch on Monday, I'm doing pretty good...not great yet...but not bad.  I was  able to get back into the art studio today and do some 'therapy', and much to my surprise and HONOR, I was picked as a winner of the Altenew March Inspiration Challenge!  I LOVE their florals and will hopefully be able to complete the Educator Program soon.  HERE is the card that won.

The Altenew April Inspiration Challenge was a challenge for me...  The inspiration comes from guest host Joy D'souza and a beautiful photo she took of a red rose.  Now...as a former florist, I LOVE roses!  However...red roses cause me PTSD twitches.  I've spent DAYS making THOUSANDS of vases of red roses for Valentine's day for YEARS.  I would seriously have nightmares of the repetitive nature of the arranging, and fear of miscounting or running out...yes, I'm weird.  

I think that's why this was a difficult project for me!  I think I made 12 different red roses with the same colors and stencils and stamps.  Some with white borders, some on red paper, some fully covered with ink.  I think I made 5 different background papers, just trying to make it 'right'.  I finally put this together.  Its not my favorite creation, but I needed several thank you cards for sweet people that gave me get well wishes and was seeing them tonight.

I have signed up for the Altenew monthly Craft Your Life Kits and received the Garden Rose kit.  I embossed the background panel with the embossing folder in the kit, after inking up the panel with 2 green inks to deepen the embossing.  The rose didn't photograph well, but it is pretty in person. 

After I created the rose and the leaves, I assembled the card and die cut 'thanks' from the Script Words 2 die set out of gold mirror paper.  I finished off the card with a splatter of metallic gold water color and some rhinestones I colored green with a Copic marker.  I will try to make another one since I'm not really thrilled with this one.

That's it!  Have a colorful day!

For my other girl - CHALLENGE WINNER AND GUEST DESIGNER SPOT!

 Even though the blog is under construction, I'm still posting! I think it will be completed while I'm resting after gallbladder surgery next Thursday.   Future posts will have more project details.

So...I'm feeling guilty.  I couldn't just make something for my eldest...I had to create something for my littlest.  Although, at 14 years and nearly 6 foot, she's not little anymore! She struggles with being a "different" than the other girls, but has faced any challenge head on, she's incredibly courageous!  I whipped this one out, inspired by the challenge over at Color Hues .  Not a color group I would lean toward, but there are some STUNNERS made by the design team over there!  This one and this one were my two favs...

 

All of the products I used here were from Altenew; Dainty Bouquet stamp set and dies, Better Together sentiment stamp set and the Quilted die I used to emboss the card front.  I love their florals...  The sentiment die was from Spellbinders

Have a colorful week!!

You are Capable!

 Even though the blog is under construction, I'm still posting! I think it will be completed while I'm resting after gallbladder surgery next Thursday.   Future posts will have more project details.

I have begun to dabble into art journaling.  Its a new media for me and of course had to get all kinds of fun things to make it happen ;).  My daughter is away in her first year at college, so I had her in mind while creating this. I used the Inkspirational Challenge #286 colors as my starting off point for this, and as much as I try, I can't upload the image to show you here!  Follow the link so you can see the beautiful colors and images. 

    We had a white persian cat when she was growing up, so I had to add Oscar in there!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!  Have a colorful and inspired day!

Birthday Fairy Tag - CHALLENGE WINNER! PTI

 Even though the blog is under construction, I'm still posting! I think it will be completed while I'm resting after gallbladder surgery next Thursday.   Future posts will have more project details.

It has been SOOO long since I've been posting so my stamp inventory is 'vintage'.  I have tons of the old PTI tag sets for baking, bookmarks, school tags and more.  Tags are always something I've enjoyed and had a few published in magazines.  The Papertrey Ink challenge this month is right up my alley, as well as this weeks Seize the Birthday Challenge!  I'm glad I was able to spot this challenge before they ended...

I've used 2 different 'vintage' PTI stamp sets with their coordinating dies as well as a current 'oldie but goodie' die.  I also coordinated them with patterned papers and the adorable glittery fairy.  Since we love fairy gardens at our house, I thought this was a good fit for the STB challenge as well.  I plan on using this for a little one's birthday that's coming up soon, she's all things girly!

Supplies used:

Stamp sets and coordinating dies (all PTI): Gran's Garden, Half and Half

Die (PTI): Mix & Mat Postal Die (this one is still available!)

Thanks for the Challenge - CHALLENGE WINNER AND GUEST DESIGNER SPOT!

Even though the blog is under construction, I'm still posting! I think it will be completed while I'm resting after gallbladder surgery next Thursday.   Future posts will have more project details, until then here is a creation for this week's Altenew's March Inspiration Challenge.

The majority of my stamps come from Altenew, I just LOVE the floral images!  The layered die cuts and layered stamping is to swoon over!  I was participating in the Altenew Educator Certification Program before Covid, but after giving up my studio for my daughter, I was not able to complete it.  BUT, I'm here now and will engage them soon to try and complete it.  For now, I'm just enjoying being back here being inspired and creating!

This was a difficult challenge for me, as I do NOT gravitate to these colors at all.  The beautiful florals just didn't seem to fit for me, but I will challenge myself to try again with them.  Instead I chose the classic Leaf Cluster stamp and die set as well as the Script Words die and Sentiment Strips.

The colors of the photos here are much darker than in person or on my camera....hopefully it's just my computer?

Have a colorful day!

Easter Skirt Inspiration

 Even though the blog is under construction, I'm still going to post! I have returned to my art studio after a hiatus since November 2019.   Future posts will have more details, until then here is a creation for this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Easter/Spring.

This card is inspired by my Easter Sunday church skirt this year:

I love the simple classic look of blue and white.  Its crisp and fresh and reminds me of spring!  I used Spellbinders Four Petal Bloom Reflection etched die set...I HAD to have this...Its so beautiful....

 

Thanks for coming by, please come back soon to see the changes!

MFT Sketch Challenge 638

 Even though the blog is under construction, I'm still going to post! I have returned to my art studio after a hiatus since November 2019.   Future posts will have more details, but these cards are for the MFT Sketch Challenge 638.  I LOVE MFT Stamps, I have quite a few.  This stamp set and coordinating dies are retired...I will invest in new ones once I revisit the sets I have...until then, enjoy this great set and my creations!

I made 3 cards, as both our daughters will have a tough week at school, and a friend is completing her training test as well.  They are all strong women and definitely 'got this'!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!

 Please be patient with the appearance and loss of links.  We are currently changing LilyBeth Boutique/Lilypad Designs to

JUGS #516 Guest Designer

Good morning!  Did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving?  Lots of good grub and family moments?  Ours was busy and fun filled with love, hard work and wonderful food!  I'm on my last busy week of the year, 2 parties, 1 country club and 1 house to decorate.  I'm excited for this week to be finished!

This week is my final post as the November Guest Designer for the JUGS Challenge Blog.  This week the challenge is Anything Goes, so I've decided to share with you what I've been working on in my studio to prepare for my personal party on Saturday.  We have an annual cookie party and my art studio will be cookie decorating central for the kiddos that visit that day.  I'm creating new decorations for my space and decided to decorate my tree with my most recent creations!

I love how it turned out!

Here it is live action!

Thank you so much to all the ladies on the design team at JUGS!  It's been an honor and a great month!

JUGS Challenge #515

Good morning!  Grab a cup o' joe and get some inspiration today!

I am once again guest designing for the Just Us Girls Challenge blog today.  This week we are using a lovely winter scene as our inspiration for creating!

Makes me want to build a snowman....

Seeing as I don't have any snowman stamp sets, I decided to use my Altenew Wanderlust stamp set to make this card.  I love the graphic image of this set, it's not a style I normally gravitate toward, but while doing the AECP program, I have been going outside my normal comfort zone....which is a good thing....

Using the MISTI, the back ground was stamped repeatedly in an ombre style using the ROck Collection die inks from Altenew.  The MISTI is WONDERFUL and I highly recommend picking one up if you don't have one.  Its super handy.

The sentiment was created using'Merry' from the Holiday Script Dies from Altenew die cut from black paper.  The 'Christmas' is part of an old set of ornaments from all places, Walmart!  They are great to add every once and a while to my creations.  The tress were then highlighted with Stickles glitter glue in Star Dust for some extra shimmer.

Hope you are inspired!  See you over at JUGS!

Guest Designer JUGS #514

Good morning!  Boy has life been CRAZY this week!  I have been creating the holiday decorations for our Country Club as well as for my house.  My garage and art studio are covered with pine, bulbs and poinsettias!  I'll post photos of it all installed soon....

I did squeeze in a little time to create this weeks JUGS Guest Designer creation for this weeks theme, Shades of Teal.  Teal is one of my all time favorite colors so this was right up my alley!

I started by heat embossing using Altenew's Hexagon Play background stamp.  It's a great stamp, and I love how it looks heat embossed!  I then took a teal watercolor paint with a large paint brush and painted up the paper adding more water as I progressed so it would create an ombre effect.  I then set the paper aside to dry.

I like how the paint puddled in the heat embossed areas.  I then used the Fine Frames Circle die to cut out white and black circles and fit them inside each other in a random pattern.

Finally, I added the sentiment with an offset piece of black paper and some black sequins to add some sparkle!  Be sure to visit all the designers sites to spread some love to them and all the hard work they do each and every week for us!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a colorful day!

JUGS #513 Guest Designer

Welcome!  I'm so excited you're here...  I'm very honored to have been chosen to be the November guest designer for the Just Us Girls Challenge.  It's been fun so far, and this weeks theme was extra fun!


It's always fun to create outside of your comfort zone.  This was an idea I've had in my head for a while now.  I'm glad I had an excuse to get it out.

I started with an embroidery hoop, which has been all the rage lately in decor.  The greenery was created using Altenew's Leaf Clusters stamp and die set.  Stamping it on SU! paper using Evergreen and Forest Glades inks, the leaves were layered on each other around the lower half of the hoop.

The flowers were created using the Virgina Rose 3D die set.  My daughter and I love to create mixed media papers, and she created the paper used for the second layer of the flowers.  The papers and layers were mixed up together, so the flowers match without being exactly the same.  The leaves from the set were added in a darker olive color to add some depth to the leaves.

I decided to hang this in my studio over the coffee station so I can see it every day.

Have a colorful day!

Stash die cut find

Thank you so much for stopping by!  It's starting to get cold here in Ohio and I have the holidays on my mind.  I am hosting Thanksgiving, a Christmas cookie party, coordinating our company's party, decorating our home, our country club and all this has to be done by December 6th.  Cookie baking is in full force and I will be completing the decor this weekend.  Load of things on my plate!

Today I am continuing my SIC Die Cuts week.  I adore die cuts, and use them frequently in my creations.  I love when they coordinate with stamps, but also stand alone dies.  Yup, I just love them all!

I was checking out my stash today and came across this fabulous background I created when I made this card here.  It's the opposite of that background.  This one had tons more sparkle and needed just the right theme to work with it.  Christmas with all the sparkle was the perfect theme!

The die cut background was created by running the cover die with each card stocks through the die cutting machine a piece of Press and Seal wrap behind it.  Then on each piece, peel the positive part of the die off the wrap and swap them!  It's really that easy!

Leaf Canopy is a versatile stamp and die set.  It is a perfect set for any theme, from sympathy, to birthdays to Christmas; this set can be used for them all!  I recently used it on a set of cards for a business.  Today, its being used with vellum and white embossing powder to give the feel of an icy branch of silver dollar eucalyptus.....which is one of my favorite greens for the holidays.....  The sentiment was created by using the Merry Christmas die set from Altenew.  Its a great set and has several options for creating the sentiment you want.  AND, I of course had to add even ore sparkle with sequins!....I have an addiction really.....

I'm adding this creation to this weeks Addicted to Stamps challenge, Anything Goes.

It was great to see you!

Another reject

Hi ya'll!

A super quick post.  I have another card with a fabulous layered die today.  Again, I've been working on my AECP program and this is another creation I made, I wasn't thrilled with so I'm not using it for my submission.  I thought this had great potential, until I messed up the sentiment!  I tried to fix it, but didn't like how it looks.

The Altenew Peony Dream 3D die cut is fantastic!  A large piece of watercolor paper was painted in various colors of red.  Then the flower pieces were die cut from the different values.  It's a great way to create these layered flowers, the large paper allows you to create many different flowers that complement each other.  I whipped out a few to keep in my stash for future projects.

The background was stenciled and stamped which helps to ground the image so it doesn't look like it's floating there.

I'm bummed the sentiment stamping went awry, this had great potential.  Oh well!

Have a colorful day!