confetti

sweet soft serve

here's one more quick project using the kitschy digitals images.  this time, it's purely digital!  at the same time that I was working on my article for craft critique, a good friend who is moving decided to have a last minute sleepover in their almost empty house for her girls who were both in my girls' classes at school.  i offered to help send out the email since she was busy with orchestrating the movers, etc.  and of course, i couldn't just send out a plain jane email!  so, with kitschy still on the brain & ten minutes later, i had a cute completely digital email invite to pass on--gotta love easy & cute!! don't forget to leave a comment on my article and any of the other spotlight articles by friday night for a chance to win your own kitschy kit...

:) lexi

kitschy digitals ~ craft critique

so posting every day right away was a little ambitious!  yesterday ended up being pretty hectic, but i'm back today with a card from the new craft critique article i was working on.  the article is part of a vendor spotlight on kitschy digitals by danielle thompson.  kitschy digitals offers "digital kits, paper goods & embroidery patterns for the kitsch-lover in you."  really cute, fun images and papers that you can use in digital layouts, or print and use on other projects.  and since it's digital, you can do all that as many times as you want.  the soft serve and green bubble talk paper in this card are two of my faves, especially when paired with "you make life sweet" from a muse.  bright, kitschy fun!  click here to read my article and see more cute pics and here to look through the whole vendor spotlight--and be sure to leave a comment over there for a chance at free kitschy digi fun!  if you've ever wanted to try digital scrapping or designing, these kits would be a fun way to start.

enjoy!
:) lexi

iron on tshirt transfers ~ craft critique

we're back!  it was a fun week at the beach, but i'm glad to be home.  i've had quite a bit of catch up the past two days, wrapping up an invitation/party order and working on an article for craft critique.  that article will post some time this week, but i also had another one posted while we were gone.  internet access was hit or miss, and i was only able to write once, so i thought i'd share the link today in case you missed it.  i love to make personalized tshirts for the various parties i do, so the wilton ink jet tshirt transfers i use were the perfect product to review--click here to read all about it.  i even stamped a couple of the new a muse critters from the summer fun release on a transfer scrap for a very special alligator shirt!!  i still have a long list of fun stuff to share from my busy last month of school, so i hope to be back daily now that i'm home.  no guarantees, though--summer does have a way of messing with the schedule...

'nite!
:) lexi

a "mini" review ~ craft critique

i have another quick meyer imports article posted at craft critique today--it's all about the miniatures!  click here to read more, including how to make these adorable bottle cap necklaces.  and don't forget, you can leave one comment on each of the meyer imports reviews for a chance to win some of their fun, unique products.  so go, look, comment--and hopefully, win!  good luck...

:) lexi

german glass glitter ~ craft critique

i love glitter and i was recently given several beautiful colors of german glass glitter from meyer imports to review for craft critique--so sparkly and fun!  click here to read all about it.  and be sure to leave a comment on my article as well as the other vendor spotlight articles to win some fun meyer imports goodies of your own!!

:) lexi

get rollin' ~ craft critique

see, i do still stamp!  this is a quick little project i did for a craft critique article today.  i used clear stamps on the new memory essentials get rollin' adhesive wheel to create my own unique wheel patterns.  i used numbers from the a muse clear set birthday builder for wheeled wrapping paper and as an accent on the matching card, also featuring the very cute balloon mouse from the saltbox studio.  i love making things that go together!  check out the article for more info...

:) lexi

creative candy ~ craft critique

one of my favorite and most used embellishments is a muse creative candy, so when i had to pick an embellishment to review for craft critique, i jumped at the chance to review it.  here's a quick card using a row of micro dot twinkle stickers.  because of how they're packaged, using rows is one of the really cool things you can do with the twinkles--and so easy, too, once you get used to the idea of using so many at once!!  basically, you just have to be sure to always have a lot on hand!  so, go check out my review and let me know if you have any cool new creative candy ideas!

:) lexi

ribbonrie ~ craft critique

this is one of three cards i created for a book review article i wrote for craft critique today--the book is ribbonrie by making memories, perfect for the ribbon hoarder i have become!  to let the ribbon ideas from the book shine, i kept the layouts simple and pretty stamp free, except for the saltbox studio sentiments i chose for each one.  are you thinking summer?  today was our last day of school--this week of half days seemed to go on forever, but i'm so happy to have made it to the end in one piece.  i have lots of loose ends to tie up on various projects, but at least the ones that were needed for the end of school are done and out of the way!

have a great weekend...
:) lexi

p.s.  monkey party pics will be coming soon--i still have to choose and edit the pictures i want to use!

cake tools ~ craft critique

i have an article up at craft critique today--click here to find out why these are a few of my favorite things!  and if you have tips to share or if there are other cake topics you'd like me to explore, be sure to let me know...

have a sweet day!
:) lexi

paper trimming buddy ~ craft critique

 

i have an article up at craft critique today--a review of the marvy uchida paper trimming buddy.  while it is not my main trimmer, it's a pretty handy buddy to have around!  i used the pinking blade on this card to add a quick detail to the green panel on this baby card, creating a field perfect for the leaping sheep from the saltbox studio.  i think it adds just enough visual interest, while still allowing the simplicity of the design to shine.

need a buddy?  go check it out!
:) lexi

coluzzle cuts ~ craft critique

 

i feel so behind the times--i had to wait until christmas was over and things haven't slowed down as much as i thought they would, but i finally got a few of the new a muse valentine stamps!  of course, i made sure to use one for my article today over on craft critique.  we're focusing on cutting tools right now, so if you're looking to buy something new or be reminded about something you already own, go check out what the reporters have to say.  i wrote about the coluzzle, which i used on the top flap of this card to create the rounded edge.  i added the red layer after cutting and trimmed closely with scallop scissors for an additional pop of color and detail.  i just *had* to use this card with the bandit because of his shirt.  i noticed that a few of my fellow amuseaddicts had the same thought--check out novell's and geeta's!  anybody else?  if you have one, leave a link!

:) lexi

ideas for free ~ craft critique

 

i love creating at christmas time, especially when it involves paper and ink--ornaments, gifts and cards, oh my!  need some great ideas for cool christmas projects?  it's beginning to look a lot like christmas at craft critique!  check out my article there today to find out about these ornaments and a great resource for free ideas.  it's a good thing!

:) lexi

p.s. the girls were holding the bird for the first time on thanksgiving and i just loved the quick pictures i took, especially the one of mignon--it kind of reminds me of the elzybells stamp from yesterday!

kitchen sink stamps ~ craft critique

 

this week is kitchen sink stamps week at craft critique!  for my review, i was given two sets to play and create with and i further challenged myself to stamp outside of the box a bit--so much fun!  for example, this turkey, one of several cards i featured in my article, is created with the set pretty petals, a flower set!  go check it out along with the rest of the reviews--you even have a chance to win new stamps!

thanks for stopping by!
:) lexi

diy chipboard ~ craft critique

 

a quick post for a change, two easy-peasy cards using die cut coaster elements left over from my craft critique article today.  click here to check it out and visit craft critique every day this week to hear what our reporters have to say about other chipboard products!

:) lexi

p.s. welcome to all of the papertrey fans who've stopped by today--i hope you'll continue to check in from time to time!

meet jack...

 
                       click here to pull the tab!

here's an advanced look at one of the projects i created for my halloween product review over at craft critique this week.  i thought scoopy's pocket card from the a*muse*a*palooza challenges this summer was a perfect match for my jack card idea. the article is scheduled to post tomorrow, so be sure to check it out along with the other great halloween articles this week and next!  and if you've shared a crafty halloween idea or project on your blog, you still have time to submit a link for the upcoming carnival.  i love checking out all the great ideas that carnival links bring!

thanks for stopping by...
:) lexi

no stamping = 2 cards + a contest

 
 

so i said i was going to try to get some stamping done, and while i didn't stamp, i did create a couple of cards!  i spent a good part of today working on my first craft critique article on a favorite tool, which i used while creating these cards.  which brings me to the contest...

try to guess what tool i'm reviewing with these cards and i'll give you a sampling of the chipboard shapes that the birdy and fleur de lis came from.  it was this huge pack from joann's that ended up on the clearance table for cheap cheap and i don't think i could ever use them all!  actually, let's make that *two* prize packages...

1. picked randomly from any correct answers posted before my article posts on monday (i will compare comment times to the posting time)
2. picked randomly from all answers (correct or not) & comments posted by 11:59 pm cst monday night

the fine print:  only one guess per person & i will post both winners on tuesday.  good luck! 

this is my first contest give-a-way, so i really have no idea what kind of response i'll get.  actually, my hits have increased dramatically since nichole's honorable mention the other day--are you still reading?!  so, feel free to pass it on or keep it to yourself to increase your odds!  and don't forget to stop by craft critique on monday to read the article.

looking forward to your guesses...
:) lexi

back to tx & meanwhile (enabler alert)...

it's time to head back to texas and pick up my (hopefully) happy little camper.  this is one of the few shots of her from the daily photos.  she had a special knack for being behind people when the camera clicked, only having an arm or the top of her head showing--but i could tell!   colleen is sooo excited and can't wait to have her big sis home!  i just hope that mignon is happy to see her too or she will be crushed. 

i may not be able to post for a few days, so i wanted to point out that it's hambly week at craft critique.  while i have not yet tried this company's products, i have definitely been enabled--they look awesome and sound like so much fun to play with.  i especially like the transparencies.  and the patterns and cool images.  woodgrain, trendy colors & shapes, owls, birds, chandeliers... wow!

so, go check it out and get enabled too & i'll be back soon!
:) lexi

cha inspired

 

i love all the posts on craft critique and other blogs about cha.  one day, i hope to be in that number, but today, at least, i found inspiration and i don't have to wait 'til product hits the stores!  i spotted a tree paper by scenic route in a couple of photos and the first thought that came to mind was that i could recreate it card-size using the various line images from papertrey ink's faux ribbon and green thumb combined with the little double leaf design from the new borders & corners {oval}, which provided me with a nice sentiment element, too.  i also took another opportunity to play with the new su! in colors, using soft sky as an accent color with the more natural tones of river rock, wild wasabi and chocolate chip.  the little bird is inkadinkado from michael's and practically flew to my paper to join the tree.  it was a great way to add a little more blue and still have the brown.

don't forget to stop by craft critique for your cha scoop!  today's post is especially informative and includes a picture of the paper that inspired me.

i'm still taking it somewhat slow with harry potter.  it's so hard to put down and i would just throw caution to the wind, but i have so much going on right now! 

back to juggling it all...
:) lexi

celebrations + fun news!

 
 

today i decided to share a few pictures of what i create to celebrate.  these were from mignon's birthday luau two years ago, which still ranks as one of my favorites!  actually my parties are like my kids--can't pick a true fave! 

anyway, why share this today?  well, it's kind of connected to my fun news and if you read craft critique, you might have already know, otherwise click here!  i'm so excited about this new opportunity to share my opinions about crafting--and to work with such a great team of reporters.  i can't wait for my first assignment!  but first, there's an assignment for you over there, a contest!  submit pictures of how you craft your celebrations and you could win a big box o' goodies.  so, what do you create to celebrate?  i can't wait to see!

happy friday!
:) lexi

p.s.  i have the descriptions for these pictures as well as a few more of the luau and other parties in my theme parties photo album on the left.  enjoy!