Designs by Latisha Yoast

Here is a card I did a few days ago, but I didn't take a picture until today.  I used Kazan's sketch #25 over on 2sketches4you.  I was at first thinking how I was going to cut a star, but on one of my Slice cartridges, there is a star shape (its the basic's cartridge that came with it) I cut it out at 4 inches.  The smaller stars, I punched out using my Creative Memories star punch.  I crumpled the paper a bit so soften up the sharp lines of the star, which went nicely with the crumpled, stretchy white ribbon.  The sentiment is from PTI's Anniversary set, and the buttons are also from PTI.  The designer paper is from Making Memories.  I need more Happy Birthday cards to go into my little basket, birthdays sneak up on you so its nice to have a few on hand. "Happy Birthday"

Isn't this a super cute image!!  Most of my friends are HUGE animal lovers, so I know this would make anyone of them smile.  This is a 4 1/4 inch square card, the image is from GinaK (thank you Asela!) the sentiment is in the stamp set, but I used my Dymo machine to make this sentiment, then adhered them to red card stock.  I cut the main panel out using the long rectangle nestabilities from Spellbinders, and used my score-pal to score the lines that frame the sentiment.  I know my buttons are naked, but I didn't have time to thread them...I was running against the daylight, that I needed to photograph this card. "Warm and Fuzzy" Is it just me or is time speeding up...I cannot believe its almost May!  Where the heck has this year gone?  It almost summer=long lazy days.  Have a wonderful day!

I made this card a little while ago, but sent it to my secret sister Amy and couldn't post on my blog until now (she reads my blog) "hello Amy"!  I sent this to her for Easter.  The image is from the February (i think) kit of the month from Unity Stamp Co.  I love love love ivory paper, it really softens your card.  Sometimes using a white card stock is too bright for the mood I'm trying to convey.  Next time you are making a card, try using your favorite off white/cream card stock and look at the difference it creates.  I love using this lace I picked up paired with ivory/cream satin ribbon, its such a lovely combination...add in some pearls, and OH MY HECK you have the beginnings of a fabby card.  This is a really simple card design, but little additions will give it that "oh" response.  If you have any Spellbinder dies, take that extra 30 seconds, to emboss the paper, or instead of tying a knot, tie a bow, that extra touch will show, especially when you a...

Here is another card I made this weekend for the mini VSN (virtual stamp night), this card was for Carolina's challenge to make a card about one of your favorite drinks.  I pulled out my Summer on the Patio set (same one that has the chandelier from yesterday) and stamped the larger wine bottle and glass, then colored it in with Copic markers.  The white panel was cut and embossed using the Spellbinders label 1 die.  Again because each challenge has you make the card in under 45 minutes, its a clean and simple layout, it goes to show you can have make a beautiful card, very simply, kind of the less is more philosophy. "Hello Friend" In other news, I got a new bike!  Woot!  Woot!  Well, Jess, and the kids got bikes as well.  Where we live is in a newer subdivision, its a planned community, so the sidewalks are really really wide!  Jess and I rode our bikes to the store the other day and we rode side by side with tons of room left.  Since I live in Florida, it was only fitt...

Is anyone else participating in the VSN Mini this weekend over on SCS ? (virtual stamp night)  There are some really cool challenges, I want to try and do them all, but here is two of my cards that I have finished.  This first one is for a challenge to use strips of paper, you only have 45 minutes to finish each challenge which I really like, because they are just quick and easy cards, nothing too fancy.  The second card is for a challenge in which you needed to make a sports themed card.  It has no stamping involved (thank you Cosmo Cricket) I just cut some paper up that had that image on it. The weather has been so beautiful this weekend!  I'm so skipping out on Jacob's practice today, I'm going to have Jess bring both kids so I have a little me time, it will only be for 2 hours but I will take it.  I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday! **Edited the chandelier is from a Flourishes set called On the Patio**

Today over on the Flourishes Newslette r , the lovely and talented Cindy is giving us all a tutorial on Flower Soft , so go over and check it out!  For my card I used the Swings stamp set from Flourishes , stamped the image in Memento ink, colored in the branches with a Copic marker, layed down my coat of glue and then sprinkled some green Flower Soft over the glue.  While the glue was still wet, I grabbed some Kaiser Red Pearls and pushed them into the Flower Soft, to kind of make it appear that apples were in the tree.   "puffy tree" Be sure to visit the rest of the designers to see how they used Flower Soft on their cards Cindy Lawrence Christine Okken Julie Koerber Laura Fredrickson Leslie Miller Flourishes Newsletter

So, I made a card last night and I didn't like the outcome, so I played while the kids ate lunch and this is what I came up with.  My mojo is lacking so I used Laura's sketch #24 from 2sketches4you and it put me on the right path.  Its a very clean looking card (my favorite), I thought about using some designer paper, but it would have made the card too busy for my taste.  I rounded the bottom corners just to soften the card up a bit. Sorry for the quick post, but both of my children have practice tonight, and with Jess gone this week that means I'm busier than normal. "thinking of you" materials used: PTI anniversary set GinaK ivory card stock & PTI black cardstock Lace ribbon from Flourishes PTI satin ribbon Hibiscus ink, Memento ink corner rounder foam

OK, so I made a card last night and I'm not digging it, so I'm going to do make a new card to show a little later.  Jess is gone this week, so my crafting time gets cut a bit.  The kids have around 10 days left of school (we home schooled this year)...can I get an AMEN?!?!!  I have really enjoyed teaching them this year, I have learned a lot about myself and my children, but I am so ready for a break!  Its really tough when Jess is gone, I never get a break.  So come May 1st, the kids and I are going to party like rock stars...family style.

Its Monday already?!?  Where did my weekend go?  Does anyone else wish it is still Sunday?  I do lol!  Well, last week I received a beautiful PTI stamp set from my friend Chris, and I finally got to ink it up.  PTI stamps are made from photopolymer, so, I really like using Dew Drops (chalk ink) and Brilliance pigment inks with them.  You get really nice coverage, which is awesome when you are working with silhouette stamps.  I generation stamped each flower stem, generation stamping is where you ink up the stamp once and continue to stamp until the ink is off the stamp.  The more you stamp the lighter the image becomes, this technique is really nice to use when you want to create depth.   I apologize for the poor lighting/photo its dark outside and I hate taking pictures without natural light...oh well.  Well I'm off for now, I have terrible allergies right now and looking at a computer screen is hurting my eyes.  Have a wonderful Monday!! "friend for life" materials used...

Today over on the Flourishes Newsletter Stacy is showing us tricks and tips on how to use ribbon on your card.  I just folded over my satin ribbon and then stapled it, I was being lazy and didn't want to sew.  There are so many cool ways to use ribbon on your card other than tying a bow.  I do like the way the ribbon treatment on this card turned out, I will have to remember this more often.   I used Kazan's sketch #24 , from 2sketches4you (love love love it!!), her and Laura are sketch masters, they are my favorite sketches on the web, so go check them out! I used the new Sweet Violets stamp set from Flourishes , I have never seen a reddish/orangish violet, but I wanted the flowers to match the paper, and unless your the flower police, I think it looks pretty good lol.  I used a Martha Stewart border punch, and then took a Copic marker and put the tip into each hole.  The hat pins were clear and a pearl color originally, but I wanted them to match also so I took the same Co...

These are some of my most favorite pictures, they were taken the day my husband left on his deployment in 2001.  We were so young, and really didn't think anything bad would happen while he was deployed, after all it was peace-time {little did we know 9-11 was going to happen in a few months}.  In these photos I just see happy faces, putting on a brave face, smiling, documenting this day of our life.  After I watched the boat pull away, and raced down the road to meet the boat where it entered the sea and wave my final good bye {like all good wives do} I have to admit, I went home had a strawberry margarita and cried.  The kids had know idea I was upset, I had a babysitter watch them for a few hours so I could think and re-group.   One of the hardest parts about being a military wife is dealing with being lonely, having this absent part in your heart and daily life missing, putting on a brave face for your children, reassuring them everything is ok, telling them Daddy will be home ...

I'm in a swap where we get to use up our scraps of dp, cardstock & embellishments...so cool!  I had a little bit of this paper (i think its Crate paper?) and I mixed and matched my card bases and ribbon.  I don't like to do too many of the same card design, I get bored, so I enjoyed this a lot.  Thanks Jen !  One of my best friends Chris , earned two anniversary sets from PTI, and she sent me one of them (isn't that sweet!), so I got the stars and one of the sentiments inked up and used it with these cards.  Just to clarify, yes I know the cards all do not look exactly the same, thats the point, I used my scraps of stuff so, thats why they are not all identical :). I stayed up last night for the PTI release (bought the tea set), and I had the worst headache, and its starting to come back.  I do not get headaches so I just feel so out of it.  Its sunny and around  65 degrees outside, a nice spring day.  I think I may open up the door to the balcony and take a nap, maybe ...

We had quite the down pour of rain last night!  The rain was coming in sideways and the street was getting flooded, it makes for cheap entertainment for the kids...don't get me started on the lightening, we all were oohing and awing...but I was kind of freaking out on the inside lol!  I do not like tornado warnings, especially at night.  Anyhow, no flickering of power anymore we are good. Someone I know, is getting surgery today, so I made this last night for her.  Very little stamping and minimal layers...I went a little crazy with the buttons, but I really like how this card turned out!  Ivory/cream, whatever you want to call it, I think its my favorite color to use as a card base, it just softens everything up really nicely.  The sentiment and the flourished bracket thing around it, are both from the Sweet Violets stamp set just released on Friday from Flourishes.  I'm telling you, I LOVE, the sentiments from this set...they make me happy!  I cut and embossed the sentiment ...

Because of the torential rain, wind, lightening and oh the Tornado warning we are in lol...I am having a difficult time with our internet, so check back a little later today, and I will have a new post. hugs~ latisha

For all of you Basic Grey Porcelain lovers you made need to look away if you are hoarding it because this layout may push you over the edge LOL.  I used a piece of Bazzil white 12x12 cardstock for the background & then all of the designer paper and stickers come from the Porcelain line.  Not that I like to be behind in my scrapbooking, but isn't it wonderful when a new line of paper comes out, that fits perfectly with older photos!  I used sketch #14 from 52 Sketches , for my layout.  Sorry for the not so great photos, its grey outside & I have yet to master taking pictures of layouts.  The page is from a Tea party my daughter and I went to when she was much younger, she had me curl her hair, we drank tea and had tiny little sandwiches.  It was the dead of winter in Connecticut, and if you know me, I don't do well in cold weather at all!  We got bundled up, I put our SUV if 4WD, drove through the snow & went and had tea...it was fabulous!!  I hope you all have a won...

Well Good Friday to you first off!  Secondly, today is the last day of sneak peeks from Flourishes & today I'm showing a new background stamp called Vintage Wallpaper.  If it looks familiar its because it has some of the same elements that the Thinking of You stamp set has.  It could be a companion set or a stand alone stamp, like I did in this card.  When I was looking for ways to showcase this stamp, I stumbled upon this weeks sketch from 2sketches4you , its kind of "scrappy" which worked awesome.   When working with clear stamps, especially a large background stamp like this, I don't like to use a water based ink pad, I prefer to use something like Palette or Memento, for this I used a Brilliance Dew Drop inker, which is a pigment ink, but you get nice even coverage.  I prefer to use pigment ink when stamping with any background stamp, the ink dries slower so I don't need to race to stamp my image. The butterfly and green scalloped border are Basic Grey Por...

Day #2 of sneak peeks for April, today I'm showing a few cards (couldn't decide on one) from the Swing Set, which will be released tomorrow.  This set, has some really cute sentiments that fit perfectly with the amazing images drawn by Lauren Pope.  To describe the set in one word, I think I would say "whimsy".  Head on over to the Flourishes Newsletter and leave a comment, they are having a one day only blog candy to win this set!! On both cards, I used colored pencils and Gamsol, to color in the images.  Its a really easy technique, just make sure you have some nice blending stumps on hand.  I stamp and color the image before cutting and embossing the paper, for me its just easier that way.  Because I'm showing two cards today, I will list the materials used under each card.   Don't forget to stop by the rest of the Design Team, to see their works of art using this set (scroll down for direct links).  Tomorrow from 8-10pm CST, we are having a release party ...

Can you believe its that time again?!  Today, tomorrow and Friday, I will be showing you sneak peeks of the 3 new stamp sets being released from Flourishes .  Today I am showing you a card I did with Sweet Violets.  I don't have a sentiment on this card, however the typography of the font selected is just perfection, kind of a vintage feel.  Anyhow, I stamped the larger violet image using the rich cocoa Memento ink, the great thing about Memento ink is that it dries almost instantly, so you can start coloring right away.  I colored the violets using Copic markers, I have more Copic markers, than pencils, re-inkers, or any other coloring tool you can think of, so they are my go to coloring medium of choice.  After I colored in the violets, I went through all of my paper and nothing really spoke to me, so I went with the less is more style, and using 3D dots popped up my image onto ivory cardstock.  To make it even more feminine, I added lace trim, satin ribbon and lavender Kaiser p...

A few weeks ago, I played along with 2sketches4you and won card of the week.  The sponsor that week was from Starving Artistamps, and they sent me a fun Easter stamp set.  Starving Artistamps are red rubber and come unmounted, so until last Thursday, I did not have any EZ Mount.  So now that *some* are mounted onto the cling I can finally stamp with them.  I cannot remember this critters name, but she is cute an fun to color.  I paired her with some Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday designer paper (which is perfect for just about everything!)  The image was cut and embossed using Spellbinder Nestabilitie dies (labels 3 or 4 can't remember) and then colored in using Copic markers.  I only used 3 colors to color her in, R20{blush}, BG10{cool shadow} & E50 {egg shell}.  I just went back in and colored over the sections I wanted darker.  That is the cool thing about copic markers, everytime you go over your image with your marker, that section gets a little more darker.  Which is why paper...

Its a lazy Sunday so this is going to be short and sweet I'm in a PTI swap, and I have two spots, so I have one finished now...woot woot.  I used the stamp sets Green Thumb & Friend til the end (inked in Ocean Tides & Melon Berry).  The card base is Melon Berry card stock by PTI & the dp is Cosmo Cricket.   "true Friend" I'm really really tired today, so I'm just going to chill, maybe to do some stress free crafting and eat some good food.

Is it Friday already?  Holy heck, where did this week go?  Today, I'm going to get to go to a couple of stamp stores here in Jacksonville...oh yeah retail therapy baby!  Jess has a 4 day weekend, so I'm taking advantage of him being home tomorrow, and have some "mommy time". Anyhow, today I'm bringing you a card for the Flourishes Friday Focus challenge.  The very talented Faith, challenged us to paper piece.  I originally planned on using Coffee with Friends, however I received this cute stamp set (Gigi & Chloe) this week, and quickly changed my mind.  Paper piecing is very simple, you stamp your image on cardstock, then stamp the image again onto patterned paper, and you cut out the part you wish to piece, think of paper dolls.  Visit the Flourishes Newsletter for Faith's post.  I used some new Jenni Bowlin paper on her dress and hand bags.  Did you see Flourishes has the new Spellbinders dies!  My list is ever growing.   "retail therapy" mate...

I know I say this every time I play along at 2sketches4you , but they really have some of the best sketches out there, and their design team, gives you some serious eye candy.   For my card, I hand cut some paper flowers using some Jenni Bowlin paper , the background ledger paper is also from the same pack (Trendy).  The sentiment is from the Friends stamp set by PaperTreyink.  Its really a simple card, I framed the ledger paper with the red card stock, stamped a sentiment, and then added embellishments {the hat pin is MM}. I can't believe tomorrow is Friday!?!  Where did this week go?  I spent a lot of mine at the ball fields, that where I will be tonight, my daughter has a 2 hour practice and my son has a game.  Is anyone watching the series finale of ER tonight?  I had an emergency C-Section with my son and after I got out of the ER I was telling Jess and the nurses that I had to watch ER.  I was so drugged up, but I tried my best to watch it lol, I was a very faithful fan for a...