confetti by lexi

welcome to the flock!

 

i created this card for any new saltbox stampers out there.  once you receive your new stamps, we'd love to see what you create!  just post to your blog or gallery and let us know.  if you don't have a place to post yet, uploading to splitcoast is so easy.  for starters, check out these beauties by novell!  we also have a saltbox studio chatter folder at the *new* amuseaddicts.com message board--definitely worth visiting!  the moderators have done a fabulous job with our new diggs!

so, on to the card--for several days now, i've wanted to try to curve one of the fences from the saltbox studio for a hilly field card and i finally made time to play with the idea.  one of the best things about clear stamps is that they're flexible--literally!  you can bend the stamp and stick it to the block that way, creating a brand new look.  you can see a few examples of this idea used with sentiments in the studio, but here i've done it with a fence!  to get the right shape of the hill, i stamped the fence a second time on the green paper and cut with pinking shears just below it--voilá, perfect match!   i added the green staples for a little grass detail to meet today's ways to use it challenge at splitcoast.  and the rest of the design was loosely based on a welcome card rhonda sent to amuseaddicts a while back with a penguin pyramid and a penguin "joining the group."  the card really looks nothing like hers, but the sentiment here reminded me of that and the sheep pyramid was born.  plus i've been wanting to use these two images together, too!   

so many stamps, so little time...
:) lexi

thank ewe!

 

when i saw yesterday's color challenge at splitcoast, i knew i definitely wanted to try it.  i like bright colors, including yo yo yellow and i thought the samples of it paired with gray were beautiful.  plus this sheep image from the saltbox studio seemed to be a natural fit--grays for the sheep, yellow for the stars.  but i didn't get to stamp yesterday, so i combined it with today's sketch challenge and here are the results.  they're basically the same, but i couldn't decide on the minor details, so i made both!  which do you prefer?

i also wanted to link you to the saltbox sampler today.  first, it's a contest day and who doesn't love a chance at free stamps?!  and second, beth has a tutorial going on coloring with markers.  she's posting it step by step and you can see the original card (a simple design by yours truly) and the first steps so far--i can't wait to see the end result!

have a great day!
:) lexi

oh happy day!

 

sorry, no stamping today--i was distracted by a little sickie home from school *and* my new laptop is here--isn't she pretty?!  so i've been busy setting it up, transferring software, figuring out new features, etc. while hanging out with mignon.  since there was never a solid diagnosis on my problems, i was advised not to completely transfer my user settings from the old computer, so it's taking a little more time than it could have.  but that's okay because, finally, no more shut-downs!  and my adobe software seems to be working properly again.  seriously, that was taking so much time these last few weeks, especially with the saltbox studio release.  i was using the sick laptop, a slow desktop and my iphone to keep up--and a lot of restarting, waiting and a little retyping, too.  i will be even more excited when i finally get caught up on *everything* again...

:) lexi

 
p.s.  i keep forgetting to say a big thank you to tracy clemente at eat, sleep, stamp for giving me this sweet award!  so many blogs make my day that i just can't pick ten, especially now that the award has traveled a bunch--pick a few from my "people to read" list and you'll have your day made, too!  :)

the saltbox studio ~ welcome wagon!

 

i'm back with another serving of muffins from the saltbox studio!  here's the idea that popped into my head while working on the last card.  how's this for a welcome wagon?!  i used the pole from a banner year as the handle and cut the body from a red kitchen notecard scrap, rounding the bottom corners with a small corner rounder.  for the wheels, i punched the small circle first, then punched around that with a 1 inch circle.  before i stuck the wagon to the card, i traced the top and left sides in pencil so i could stamp first, placing my images exactly where i wanted them--so easy when you can see right through the stamps!  to color, i used a combo of copic markers and prismacolor pencils.  i like to put down a first layer of color with the markers and add texture and shading with pencils, especially when i don't have lots of shades of a given color in markers.  wouldn't you love to get a muffin from stud muffin?!

enjoy!
:) lexi

the saltbox studio ~ welcome muffins

 

how about another basket from the saltbox studio?  this time, used the way it was intended!  i just love this little basket of muffins.  it's so inviting, which is why i thought it was perfect for a welcome card.  again, i inked up only a portion of the sentiment, "welcome wagon."  isn't that cute?  i got stuck on the tab idea for this card, so i had to shorten it to make it work, but i have another idea brewing for later.  i also used the paper piecing technique for the basket liner, stamping the image a second time on a blue madeira notecard scrap and cutting out just the napkin to layer over the colored image.  i used prismacolor pencils and a colored pencil blender to color.  simple, sweet and easy to repeat!

:) lexi

p.s.  have you signed up for the saltbox studio weekly newsletter yet?  the first "peek of the week" will go out soon and you don't want to miss it!  and the contests may be slowing down, but they're not over, so keep checking the saltbox sampler for your chance to enter!

a saltbox mardi gras!

 

after our family activities today, i was inspired to create a mardi gras card!  and the stars and stripes basket jumped out as the first possibility.  using my patriotic basket card as inspiration, i changed the colors to purple, green & gold for mardi gras and here is the result!  so is it "clean and clever"?  that's how beth described my style!  and she wants to know what *your* style is--it's the last contest of the weekend and it could be worth the saltbox studio stamp set of your choice!  so if you haven't already, go leave your comment at the saltbox sampler...

good luck!
:) lexi

throw me something mister!!

busy weekend--the saltbox studio launch, hannah montana concert *and* the first mardi gras parades!!!  i'll be back later with more cards.  until then, leave a comment on another card and/or follow my saltbox links to the right...

:) lexi

Sent from my iPhone

the saltbox studio ~ counting sheep

 

how about one more design from the saltbox studio for today?  this combines one of my favorite sheep with one of the fences.  the stars & moon and sentiment are also from the sheep set.  for the second set of stars, i used the selective stamping again, only inking a portion of the stamp on the edge of my pad.  to color my image, i used a combination of copic markers, copic spicas and prismacolor pencils.  to make sure my fence lined up properly, i drew a light pencil line with a ruler, lining it up with the fence already stamped on the focal piece.  with my clear stamps, i was able to easily stamp the fence along the line, so that when i placed my focal image, it was perfectly centered.  i love clear stamps!

'nite!
:) lexi

p.s. how long have you been stamping?  leave a comment at the saltbox sampler and you could win!

the saltbox studio: shining armour!

 

i just love this little candle from the saltbox studio candle glow set.  and that sentiment is just perfect!  putting the two together made for the quickest and easiest card ever.  if you've been reading my blog long, you know how much i love quick and easy!  i actually started with the pale blue starburst pretty little paper and quickly found the green to go with it.  i think that one little pattern really sets off the whole card--it wouldn't be the same without that small touch of color.  of course, since it's a can, i wanted to color it gray--i also colored over the gray with a silver spica marker, so it's shimmery and metallic in person.  this coloring then determined my mat color of basic gray.  i couldn't let the "pierced dots" on the can go unpierced, so i took the needle to them for real, which led to the pierced pattern on the bottom--a great way to tie in the overall design with the design of the stamp.

don't forget--the fun is not over at the salbox sampler!  visit the open house for tips & techniques, contest number 2 and winners!!!

:) lexi

playing with my iphone

we're on our way home from a quick overnight trip to see hannah montana last night. the girls had a blast and my ears are still ringing!!  how cool that I can post this from my phone--pic and all!

i'll be back with more from the saltbox studio a little later...

:) lexi

Sent from my iPhone

the saltbox studio: wooly love!

 

from pink & brown to pink & green!  this ric rac pretty little paper jumped out at me as possible grass, and the design just blossomed from there.  this sheep is so pretty and poised, perfect for sitting in the grass.  and with simple doodled stems and leaves, the hearts from the same set make the best flowers, especially when love is in the air!  one of my favorite things about clear stamps is the ability to easily stamp parts of sentiments since you can see through them.  here, the original sentiment is "i wooly miss you" (you can see it as it is meant to be on this post).  i easily inked up "i wooly" on the edge of the ink pad and stamped it, adding "love" from the february banner set.  then i cleaned my original stamp, inked up "you" and stamped that, again using the clear stamps to easily line up and space.  voila! new sentiment--gotta love versatility!

be sure to head over to the saltbox studio website and the salbox sampler blog--even if you have already.  launch *day* may be over, but launch *weekend* continues!  beth has added some updated ordering information and hinted at more fun to come--don't miss out!

:) lexi

ETA: the saltbox sampler is the place to be--details for today's "open house" have been posted along with saturday contest one!

another saltbox mouse sighting!

and an adorable mouse she is, peeking from behind the yarn!  when making this card, my mind immediately gravitated toward the cozy combo of pink and brown, so i stamped my image in brown instead of black.  it's an easy way to soften the lines, especially when brown is your prominent color.  both the mouse and saying are from the sheep sayings companion set. 

so have you checked out all the images at the saltbox studio and blog yet?  you definitely don't want to miss out on the special launch discount, becoming a club member and earning an additional companion set, or the chance at winning your favorite saltbox set.  and you *have* to set aside some time to look through the studio--i was so excited and amazed to see what everyone created with the same stamps!  so go. click. now!

:) lexi

welcome to the saltbox studio!!!

today's launch day!  head over to the saltbox studio website to see the images and to the saltbox sampler to join the launch day festivities!  i'll be back later with more...

:) lexi

one more day!!!

for this last day of sneak peeks from the saltbox studio, i have more of a tease than a peek--you'll have to wait 'til tomorrow to see something totally new!  but, it's very cold here today, so i wanted to put the spotlight on snowmouse from the winter wonders set.  i featured it with the mouse on day one and i think it's just the cutest "snowman" ever!  paired with the tiny heart from the same set and coloring the scarf red and pink, it makes a sweet and simple valentine.  i also used the same heart on the cottage red pinwheel panel to add an extra red detail to the pattern.  a few glitter strokes around the snowmouse and clear mini twinkle stickers on the buttons are the perfect finishing touches.

so are you ready to see it all?  only one more sleep to go!  until then, head over to my fellow team members' blogs and the saltbox studio home page for more peeks.  and to the saltbox sampler and a muse news to learn a little more about the company--and for a chance to *win* with contest number 2!  (plus you'll see a couple more of my mouse cards--the balloon one there is one of my faves!!)

thanks for stopping by...
:) lexi

mouse party ~ another quick peek!

 

when i saw the sketch challenge at splitcoast today, i immediately thought of balloon mouse from my earlier post throwing a party with a few of his friends, so i just had to make it happen!  if you followed my link to mary rose's card, you may recognize "stud muffin" in the middle--by adding the mini candle from a banner year and brighter colors, the muffin is now a cupcake!  and for the "peek" part of this post, how cute is the girl mouse from the deck the house companion set--again, with a different color palette, she can decorate for much more than just christmas!

enjoy!
:) lexi

p.s.  don't forget to leave a comment on this post of the saltbox sampler so you can have a chance to win one of the companion sets!!!

the saltbox studio *sneak peek* day 3!!!

welcome to day three of saltbox sneak peeks!  for today i chose a sweet and simple birthday card.  did you notice that lots of mice live in the saltbox studio?!  and they're oh so cute!  you'll see them scattered among the main theme sets--like the one holding the snowball from winter wonders in this card and the one in becky's peek today from candle glow.  they also make special appearances in many of the companion sets, too, like the one featured here from celebration companion and mary rose's peek from celebration sayings.  this one would be a wonderful birthday card for any little friend!  the balloon was perfect for the "outside of the box" technique and you can color the image in the recipient's favorite colors for a sweet personal touch.

don't forget to check out the saltbox studio homepage and my fellow design team members' blogs today for more peeks.  and even more important, not only does the saltbox sampler blog have more samples posted, you have a chance to win a *free* companion set!!!  so click away now and...

good luck!
:) lexi

the saltbox studio *sneak peek* day 2...

 

finally!  i'm sorry for my delay in posting today.  i had a couple of appointments that just kept getting me off track.  but i'm here now and hope it was worth the wait!  this adorable basket is from a set called a basket celebration and the sentiment from celebration sayings, a smaller companion set.  when i saw the splitcoast color challenge this morning, this basket came quickly to mind--what's more perfect for red and two shades of blue than a stars & stripes basket!  i colored the basket in with a combination of prismacolor pencils and copic markers and used a glitter pen to accent the shooting stars and sparkles.  just wait 'til you see some of the other baskets in the set--fun, cute & very versatile!

don't forget to check the saltbox studio website and the saltbox sampler blog for new samples each day as well as the blogs of my fellow design team members.  all the links you need are listed to the right!  you can also search the splitcoast gallery--our list of peeks is growing over there, too!  in fact, i think i'll head over there now and post another color challenge card...

happy saltbox surfing!
:) lexi

the saltbox studio ~ snow much fun!!!

i'm so excited to finally share a secret i've been keeping for a while now.  i was invited to join a design team!!!  the company: the salbox studio, new!!  the owner/illustrator: beth, talented and so sweet!  the stamps: classic, whimsical, versatile, clear!  the team: listed on my sidebar, awesome--i'm so honored to work with them!   every day this week, we'll be posting sneak peaks, all counting down to friday, launch day!  so be sure to check our blogs, our splitcoast galleries and, of course, the saltbox sampler.  some days, we might even have more than one each, so check back often!

now, on to today's peek...  featuring two of my favorite stamps from the winter wonders set--not your typical snowmen!  isn't snowmouse just the cutest?  of course that's what a mouse's snowman would look like!  the set makes me wish it would snow here, so i could build them all in person.  but with the stamps, i can have "snow much fun" inside where it's toasty and warm!

thanks for stopping by!
:) lexi

ETA: peek-a-boo?  over here!

bandit on the loose!

 

i think i have a thing for the men of a muse--rock star, boris, super hero.  and now, bandit--he's just too cute!  after pairing him with the black striped card in this post, i automatically reached for the red one next.  and since i finally ordered a few marvy heart punches after all the love they've been getting on linda's and other blogs, i just had to use those too.  simple, quick and cute--gotta love that!

on another note:  i have some big news to share tomorrow, so be sure to stop by and see what it is!

:) lexi

it's hip to be square!

 
 

so i finally made time for an amuseaddicts challenge this week.  and then had computer troubles and couldn't get them posted before the new one.  now, not only is the computer bugging out on me, it seems to be causing issues with my adobe software too.  i hope there's an easy fix once my new laptop arrives.  anyway, the challenge was to use squares--in our design, the shape of the card, etc.  i love an easy "challenge" to get me going!  for the first one, i used a square layer on a square card.  i was excited to realize the jumbo scallop oval punch matched the a muse scallop oval sticker so perfectly--instant thought bubble.  and that octopus is so cute!  for the second, i just used a square card--i tried to do a square layer, but the spacing was off.  and since the starbursts on the card reminded me of little explosions, i wanted them to show well.  of course a little bling is always good!  all stamps, cards and embellishments are a muse...

have a great weekend!
:) lexi