A Busy Little Craftee Bee: January 2011

Sunday, January 30, 2011

A fun card, and a heartfelt Thank You

I just love these images from Waltzingmouse Stamps...so, so cute, the stamp set is called Half Pint Heroes. I will let my son write a letter to my husband with this card, it just seems so perfect for that.

I stamped the image onto some Neenah card stock (really nice to use with Copics), then colored in the cute little submarine using Copic markers. I trimmed the white card stock down to size, and then layered it onto a nice blue textured card stock from Bazill. To soften the card up a bit, I rounded one of the bottom corners. I thought it would be cute, to add a little bling in the water bubbles coming from behind the sub. It is a little girly, but I like it. Since I knew this card most likely would go to a man, I made a knot with the ribbon, instead of a bow.

On a personal note, thank you all so very much for the outpouring of support you all have given me. I was so amazed and in awe of all of the woman who contacted me, told me their stories, and just wanted to say they were praying for me. I felt the love and prayers, and it helped so very much! Last week I did lose the baby. It was so very difficult, and for a few days all I wanted to do was stay in bed. I allowed myself to grieve (and continue to), but I still needed to take care of my two children. So, I said a few prayers for peace and strength, to help me get through the week. We ate a lot of take out, but I am perfectly okay with that, and so were my children. With Jess gone, my friends really stepped up to the plate (and all of my readers) and made sure I was okay, and still do. I can never say thank you enough, to show my appreciation to everyone who reached out to me. I have taken this last week to rest, heal and to grieve. I am still very weak, and will continue to take it easy. My blood work was not the greatest, so I have to work on getting all of my levels back up to where they need to be.
Again, thank you all so very much!
xoxo
latisha

Monday, January 24, 2011

Thank You & a love note

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me.

It really has made the last few days a little brighter.

I am still in a "wait & see" from my doctors. I went in and did lab work today, so tomorrow morning I will have more of an idea of what is going on.

When I was sent home from the hospital on Friday, the Doctor told me to relax, and when I started to feel upset or anxious, to go & do something that makes me happy.

So, as I was sitting on my couch, letting seeds of worry cloud my brain. I decided to go make a card.

I used things that I love.

Like my favorite color combination, red & yellow. As I started to pick out materials to use, I realized that I should really send my husband a card. He needs some extra love right now too.

Isn't the sentiment perfect? "My Heart is always with you" That can just make me teary thinking about it.

I know it seems a little feminine and girly but I think that is okay. This is a love note to my husband, so it needs to represent me. I think I will spray it with some of my perfume too. Just a little reminder of home.

I hope you all are having a wonderful Monday! Mine started out cold. I didn't know it was 27 degrees this morning when I walked outside lol...that woke me up for sure!

The paper is from We R Memory Keepers, and I believe the little pocket thing in the front is from Bo Bunny. The stamps are PTI, and I added some May Arts ribbon & Kaiser Craft bling on the bottom. Sorry the materials list is a little vague. I am not in the same room as my supplies right now.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Some personal & sensitive stuff post

**warning**
below I talk about some health problems that may be too much for some to read

This past week is not one I care to ever re-live.
I had highs, lows and lots of tears.

Let me rewind...
Before Jess left on deployment, we found out I was pregnant.

I think I felt every emotion possible, but shock was very high on the list.
I didn't even think it was possible to get pregnant again. My lady parts don't exactly work right, only one of my ovaries work, Crohn's a lot of times with make a female infertile...there are just so many things against me. With that said, I became extremely happy that I was pregnant. My heart felt really full. My desire to have another child never went away, we just never tried because I am too high risk.

So, this past week, I started spotting, then as the days went on the spotting became heavy and I had really painful cramps. My pregnancy symptoms seemed to go away, and I really thought I had a miscarriage and lost the baby. (I mean bleeding that much and being in that much pain, I just assumed the worst)
My heart felt broken, and dreams of the baby were crushed. I had picked out names, looked at cribs, dreamed of that wonderful smell babies have. The only thing I wanted was a hug from my husband, but he was thousands of miles away. Thursday, and Friday were tough days for me emotionally. I felt very alone, but I have some very special friends who called & emailed constantly to make sure I was okay.

I went to the doctor yesterday, and ended up being at the hospital until 12:30 am. After many, many tests. They diagnosed me with a "threatened miscarriage". It means they don't know what my body is going to do yet. They will do blood work & exams every couple of days, to see if my hCG levels are going up or down. If they go down the baby has passed. They saw the baby on the ultrasound moniter, and said it was in the right place (not an ectopic pregnancy). I just am not far enough to hear a heart beat yet. One thing I found interesting, was that they asked me if I was on fertility treatments? I didn't start to think about that until I got home. I have know idea what that means either.

So, now I am home, still having cramps and bleeding. It feels so awful to have to just "wait and see." I have such a greater appreciation for woman who have gone through this. I never knew how emotionally & physically painful this was/is.

I am okay.
I have my faith.
I know everything happens for a reason.
I'm not angry.
I am thankful & so grateful for all of my friends & family. I can never tell them thank you enough. Just to know someone is thinking and praying for me really lifts me up.

So now, I just have to wait and see what happens.
If anyone has gone through this I would love to hear your story.

love & hugs
latisha

Thursday, January 20, 2011

A little dreamer layout

I am having a few health issues right now, so I am taking a few days to rest.

I am fine, I just need rest.

So today I am sharing a layout I made for Spellbinders.

Did you know Spellbinders has a gallery of layouts, cards, home decor etc on their website?

Yep, they sure do!

For more information on my layout, as well as more inspiration, click here.

It will redirect you to the gallery!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Calling Anne...

Anne, you are the winner of the free copy of Color Inspiration!

Please contact me with your mailing information.

Congratulations!!

CheckerBeads said...

Love the card! The colors are amazing.

Thanks for the chance to win! I am now a follower.

Anne
January 14, 2011 10:42 AM

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Spellbinders "To Die For!!" Winter Release Day 5

Spellbinders Paper Arts

"To Die For!!"

Winter Release

Blog Frenzy

January 10 – 18, 2011

Welcome to the 5th day of the Spellbinders Paper Arts "To Die For!!" Winter Release Blog Frenzy!

Spellbinders™ Paper Arts’ has been working hard to bring you another selection the most innovated and beautiful die templates in the world. The To DIE For!! Winter Release Blog Frenzy allows you a sneak peek of the products we’re introducing at the Craft and Hobby Association trade show later this month. The To DIE For!! Winter Release Blog Frenzy is from January 10 - 18, featuring 16 fabulous Designers and prizes To DIE For!!

• Win today’s new die templates!
• Be eligible to win the Grand Prize by entering each day from each blog!
• One entry per person, per blog please, on the designated days!
• Each contest is open for 48 hours to enter the contest!
• You have until 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time January 16, 2011 to enter my contest. Be sure to read the Official Rules before entering so that your entry will be valid!

These are the Designers and their contest dates:

January 10

January 11

January 12

AJ Otto

January 13

January 14

January 15

January 16

January 17

Daily contest winners are randomly chosen from valid entries, as stated in the Official Rules. The winners will receive an email within 24 hours of the contest’s closing. The winners will have 72 hours to reply to that email to claim prize. If a winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Entrants that send valid contest entry emails to each of the contests will be automatically considered for the Grand Prize. The Grand Prize has a retail value of over $800, and includes Spellbinders CHA Winter 2011 release die templates revealed in the Spellbinders To DIE For!! Winter Release Blog Frenzy and a Grand Calibur™ die cutting/embossing machine!

Thank you, Spellbinders Paper Arts, for sponsoring this contest!

I’m thrilled to share S5-044 Banner Basics One with you.

What is something most of us buy, when we are about to throw a birthday party, baby shower, bridal shower or any kind of celebration? We buy a banner. Well, today I am going to show you how with a few simple materials, you can stop buying those ugly pastel things, and create something beautiful! Let’s get started! But, hold on a second…can I just tell you how excited I am that I can finally share these wonderful die templates with you! When I opened my package, I squealed! One day if I am brave enough I will share the story with you all, on how I ran through the house like a crazy woman when I heard the UPS truck roll up to my house lol. Ok, for real now, let’s get started!

I like to start by grabbing all of my supplies. The supplies I will be using first are, Spellbinder Paper Arts S5-044 Banner Basics One, S5-028 Nested Pennants, S5-029 Nested Lacey Pennants, card stock, a strong adhesive, pattern paper and foam tape.

Next, I created some die cuts, by cutting/embossing paper with the die templates listed above. Shown is the correct sandwich to emboss with your Spellbinders Grand Calibur TM machine. Your sandwich will stack like this, “a” base plate, die templates, paper, embossing mat, the your “b” embossing plate. You will get a nice embossed edge every time.

This is what your die cuts will look like, once they have been cut/embossed.

Then, I layered the die cuts. The Nested Pennant die cut was adhered to the Nested Lacey Pennant die cut, and I layered/adhered the Banner Basics One die cuts together.

Before I adhered the banners on to the pennants, I put some 3D foam squares on the back of the banners. This will give the pennants some nice depth to them.

Repeat the above directions four more times, until you have 5 completed pennants.

I want to have a place to set my letters, to spell out the word “party.” Each pennant will have its own letter. To do this, I grabbed my Nested Lacey Pennants & Nested Pennants sets again, and pulled out some smaller pennant die templates. Here I cut/embossed them and will adhere them together.

Here are the two die cuts adhered together, with the letter placed on top. I created four more of these, and adhered them to the center of the pennants.

Once all of the pennants are assembled, it is now time to turn it into a banner. For this step you will need a strong double sided tape and ribbon.

Add adhesive to the ribbon, the pennants are now ready to be adhered down.

Add the pennants to the ribbon making sure to leave enough ribbon on the end (tails of the banner) for bows.

Tie pretty bows to the ends, and your banner is now complete.

close up photo

I love how the S5-044 Banner Basics One works perfectly with the S5-028 Nested Pennants & S5-029 Nested Lacey Pennants! Do you want to know a little secret? Spellbinders is coming out with a few more of these Banner Basics sets! Isn’t that SA-Weet?!?!! Banners will never ever go out of style, so these I think are going to become a quick favorite of mine.

The completed banner! Woot, woot! Who is ready to party?

Now what would be a party without an invitation and treats. Look at all the fun things I created! I have an invitation with a banner on it, a gift card with a pretty border, food sticks, a popcorn box, and a little ribbon & tag to go on those truffles. I had to stop myself at these 5 projects, but believe me these dies had me inspired!!! I hope you love them just as much as I do. This die template set has eight individual pieces, and at $19.99, each die template only costs about $2.50! That's an incredible value! Adding to that, each die template is triple function, it cuts, embosses and stencils!

This is the Spellbinders product I introduced:

Banner Basics One
SKU# S5-044
MSRP $19.99
Tassels
1: ½ x ⅞″
2: ½ x ⅞″
3: ¼ x 1″
4: ½ x 1⅜″

Topper Trim
1: ½ x 4⅜″
2: ¾ x 4⅜″

Banner Parts
1: ⅝ x ¾″
2: 1⅛ x 4⅜″

Click here for the Spellbinders Paper Arts To DIE For! Winter Release Rules.

TO ENTER MY CONTEST: (Contest is open for entries from 12:01 a.m. January 14, 2011 to 12:01 a.m. January 16, 2011 Central Standard Time)

1) Send your email entry to: Reveal9@spellbinders.us

2) The subject must be Banner Basics One.

3) Send!

I love your comments! Unfortunately your comment does not count towards a contest entry, so be sure to enter and then leave a comment!

If you have any questions, please e-mail ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us

Thank you for visiting and good luck!!

Materials Used:
Spellbinder Paper Arts S5-044 Banner Basics One, S5-028 Nested Pennants, S5-029 Nested Lacey Pennants, S4-310 Labels Eighteen
MME Quite Contrary pattern paper
World Win card stock: red, yellow & white
Scrapbooking Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares
Beacon adhesives Zip Dry
Kaiser Craft Scrapbooking, black rhinestones
Memento Ink
Bakers Twine
Grosgrain ribbon (generic brand)
Lawn Fawn stamps: Jessie's ABC's
American Crafts thickers

Color Inspiration Blog Hop

Have you seen this latest issue from Paper Crafts?

It is all about color combinations.

Cool right?

Working on this issue was a lot of fun. PC sent us these color swatches (Bazzill card stock) so that we would have correct color matches. I had fun pulling them out and finding product that matched them. Some of the color combinations had me scratching my head, but once you used them, they looked great together! I was constantly surprised, and I really liked that. This issue will really get you out of whatever box you are stuck in as a designer, and will have you really working with color. It was so cool to have this arrive, and see what the other designers had made. I was floored (in a good way)! In my opinion this issue, along with the Go to Sketches issue, should be in every card makers arsenal. Yep, they are that good people! Click here, to grab & buy your own copy.

Today I am showing you a card using the combination from page 20.

(BB5: Tink Pink, Great Lakes, Lemon Drop & Lemon Lime)

It is the same combo that is on the cover.

Isn't this set the cutest? Love it! Kelly over at Lawn Fawn is actually letting me sneak this set. It is something new called Lunar Lights that will release this month at CHA. (so exciting!) Of course that fabulous label is from Spellbinders, it is the Labels Seventeen die set. I colored in the lights with Copic markers, added some American Crafts ribbon, Kaiser Craft rhinestones & fun pattern paper from We R Memory Keepers.

When you start working on these combinations, mix and match the product you have in your stash. It is a great way to use up product.

Visit the rest of these designers for more inspiration today!

Latisha Yoast (me)

Head on over to the Paper Crafts Connection blog.

Right now!

They are giving away one fabulous prize!!

Make sure to leave a comment on every blog for your chance to win your very own copy of Color Inspiration. You have until midnight on Sunday, January 16th to leave a comment. I will announce the winner on Monday.

This is the mamma jamma of a prize they are giving away!!
A Cricut Expression, Gypsy & 7 Cricut Cartridges...say what!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Some of our OP-Love session proofs

Can I show you a few pictures really fast?

I have been receiving the proofs over the last few days. I can't wait to see all of them!

They are from our OP-Love photo shoot.

(photo shoot right before a deployment)

Thank you so much to Mady Joe Photography for capturing these photos for my family! If you click on the link it will take you to her blog, scroll down and there are more sneaks over there!!

My emotions are all over the place right now, so looking at these photos puts a big smile on my face. Seeing my family complete. If you are wondering what my husband is wearing in the first photo, it is his flight suit (Navy Helo Pilot).

Happy Birthday to...

Today is a very special ladies birthday.

Some of us are surprising her with posting birthday cards on our blogs.

She loves the colors pink & black, and owns a very popular company called Spellbinders Paper Arts & I am lucky enough to design for them!

Without further adieu...

Happy Birthday Stacey!!

Head on over to the Spellbinders Blog to wish her Happy Birthday & to see more cards!!

Materials Used:
Spellbinders S5-019 Labels Eight
GinaK stamps
Kaiser Craft lace and bling
Flourishes white card stock
Copic markers
foam tape
Echo Park pattern paper

Thursday, January 6, 2011

GinaK Sneak #4: Gleefully Yours

Day 4 of GinaK January sneaks

Today, I am showing a card using the Gleefully Yours stamp set.

Once I saw this stamp set, I had a few ideas in my head. I wanted this to be a less is more kind of card. As I started to create it on normal card stock, it just didn't look right. So, I grabbed a nice textured water color paper. What you need to remember about stamping on this kind of paper, is that your image really needs to have a nice coat of ink on it. Water color paper will absorb some of the ink, so use a nice wet ink pad (not a dried up one). The black is Memento, the yellow is actually SU! & the rest of the colors are Palette inks. I eyeballed the placement of the music notes, if you are too nervous to eyeball it, I would suggest using a tool like the stamp-a-majig.

Thank you all for all of the warm comments you have left me this week! You all are amazing!!

Don't forget to stop by these amazing designers!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Day 3 of sneaks: GinaK StampTV kit

Today the GinaK designers are on day #3 of sneaks.

Today the designers are showing off the Stamp TV kit.

I love, love, love, love this kit...love it!

For my project, I decided to make a pair of tags. Since my readers are of all levels of paper crafting, I did a short tutorial with step shots, on how I created these tags. Also, to introduce some of you to something different you can do with your Spellbinders die templates.

First, I gathered some pretty pattern paper (Echo Park) and my Spellbinders S5-025 Labels Seventeen die template set. I cut/embossed the paper so that I had two die cuts out of pattern paper, and one die cut with vellum.

Next, I gathered more products that I would need. Stamps, ink, lace, & bling.

Trim/cut the vellum die cut in half. Along the edges, apply a strong adhesive & very carefully add the vellum to the die cut.

I used a strong sticky tape to adhere the lace. Once adhered, I trim the excess lace off.

Here, I cut/embossed white card stock with a smaller Labels Seventeen die template, that will nest perfectly inside of my tag. I inked up the image and sentiment with Memento ink, because I plan on coloring in the heart with a Copic marker. Memento is my go to ink when I use Copic markers.

Insert the stamped die cuts into the tags, they are now ready to be embellished.

Here are the finished tags. I added ribbon, silver looping, Teresa Collins bling, Making Memories stick pins, and a black Kaiser Craft gem to the tops of the towers, I also colored in the hearts with a pink Copic marker.

I love how girly and feminine these turned out.

Don't forget to visit the ever so talented GinaK designers:

Get to know me better!

Do you want to get to know the Lawn Fawn Designers a little better?

This week & next, each day there will be a survey from a designer, then the next day will be a card from them. How fun is that?

Yesterday was my survey, which can be seen by clicking this link: Lovely Latisha

Then today, I have a new never been seen card: Lovely Latisha's card

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Day 2 of sneaks: GinaK style

Wow!

Thank you all so much who left me the most wonderful comments yesterday.

The comments really lifted me up, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Are you ready for more Ginak sneaks today?

First up, is a set called Hopeful Hearts.

I was drawn to this heart image, so I stamped the heart in different shades of red ink, then cut them out (yes, with scissors, I actually like fussy cutting). Before I adhered them down onto the card stock, I crumpled them up a bit. How? Squishing them with my hand lol. No tool needed :) They looked too clean, un-crumpled. Red & Yellow is my favorite color combination, so I added some yellow bakers twine around the card and tied a pretty bow over the heart. Now, isn't that sentiment fantastic? I think it is, I kind of love it. To finish off the card I rounded the corners.

Now this next set is dynomite! No seriously it is lol...it is called Dino-mite, sorry I just love puns :) Having a 10 year old son, this is going to be a great arsenal to have in my stamp supplies. Do you know how many times I have needed a dinosaur set, and not had one? Too many times. I can even see myself coloring in the dinosaurs in a pink color, for all of those little girls in my life.

Anyhow, for this project I created a gift bag/treat bag/mystery grab bag, whatever you want to call it. Hey, kids love this kind of stuff, especially if it is personalized. I remember as a child, nothing had my name on it. It was always such a let down to never see my name, "Latisha," but my brother Tim, well they always had everything in his name, like the license plates for your bikes, or the key chains or pencils. He had won the name lottery, and I didn't lol. Sorry, I just got off on a childhood scar, that obviously has not healed hee! My point is, there are a lot of kids out there with funky names, who will never see their name on anything in a store. So if possible, I always try to personalize things for my children's friends. This project does not have a name on it I know, I just didn't have anyone in mind when I made it. But, now I can think of a dozen little boys I could give a treat too. Oh well.

To re-create something like this, just grab any ole brown paper bag you have, some pattern paper & ribbon. If you want it a little more fancy, grab some of your favorite Spellbinder die templates. Nothing fancy went into this bag. To give you a little tip/pointer, if you want to add a bow or ribbon to the front of a bag, tie the ribbon around the pattern paper before you adhere it. Then you can add a little tag to the bow, like I did. Easy peasy...and yes, you can do this too!

Don't forget to visit these fabulous designers!!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Guest Designing

GinaK

squeal!!!

I am so excited and honored to be guesting for GinaK this month, along with her fantastic designers & illustrators. Such a creative bunch!

Is this a banner or what? Love! Those cuties in the photos, are my family. My husband Jess, daughter Kendall & son Jacob.

Today, I am sneaking two stamp sets. They are very much different, but how I love them both. They are called, "Ready Set Snow," and "Where your Heart is". I will have to say, "Where your Heart is" is pulling at my heart strings right now. The sentiments are perfect for anyone who knows or is related to a service member who is deployed. They work for other things too, but because my husband is in the Navy, I will be using this set a lot! "Ready Set Snow" is chalked full of cute little winter animals, and super punny sentiments...so much fun!

Here is a card using Where your Heart is