Update!

     I was never very good at keeping up with this to start, but I realize it has now been over two months! OOPS! I am happy to say that I have been keeping up with my projects...just not writing about them. The reason is business related. MY business! Yes...my business, LilyRose Paper Crafts is official now. I have my sales license and my tax number. It was very scary to hit that submit button, but it was a life long dream come true when I did it.
     One of the reasons I became official (other than to please the IRS of course), was so that I would be able to prove I was a real business so I could get into larger, and even juried shows. In the back of my head, I was scared to submit my work to anything, but I attended a business class in March, and the two people that ran that class said that I was indeed good enough and to go for it! So after grilling them about how juried shows work, I actually sent my information into a place that does a huge fall festival. I didn't have high hopes, because even though the man I spoke to was very nice, he emphasized that their items tended to be more on the artsy, not crafty style. He was willing to pass my info on to a more appropriate store, but of course to be representing the people that run the whole thing would be awesome. And so I sent pictures of my nicest work.....and didn't hear anything. Then one day, I got a phone call. It turned out that they received everything, but then lost my paperwork! He said if I was still available, they would love to have me be a vendor, right at their store! I was SO excited I jumped around the house, keeping it quiet so as not to wake up my kids :)
     Reality set in then....this was a two day arts and crafts festival...both days a full 8 hours. I had never done a show that large! So all of my hopes to catch up on blogging went down the drain as I made a schedule to catch up on my craft items instead. Every week from the time I got back from vacation in July, until now, I have been making brand new cards, wreaths, and everything in between. I still have a lot to go, but I am on a good track. Since it will be a while....a LONG while....before I catch up with this again, I thought in the mean time I would leave some pictures of what I have been up to. ENJOY!!!

Week 22 (May 27th) - Monster Birthday

     This card is near and dear to me. It was not specifically made for my card challenge, but for my son's birthday. However, making a card is still making a card, and using fun techniques and stamps, so it counts!

     Back when I found out I was having a boy, I didn't know how to feel about it. I wanted a boy, since I already had a girl, but at the same time, I loved my little girl so dearly, and had no idea what to expect with a boy. Of course now, my universe revolves around both of them equally, each having a different special place in my heart. And I feel silly for ever having doubts about anything!

     But one thing I do remember being excited about, was making invitations with my monster stamps (yes, this was before he was even born). So two years later, I was ready to have a monster party, and this is what I made!

Instructions coming soon!

All from Stampin' Up
Cardstock:
Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi, Pool Party
Brushed Silver, Wisper White
Versa Mark ink
Midnight Muse Stampin' Write Marker
Pacific Point Stampin' Write Marker
Make A Monster clear stamp set
Chevron embossing folder
Typeset Alphabet Bigs die cut
Big Shot
Tangerine Tango embossing powder

Week 21 (May 20th) - Doggie Greetings

     My family is full of dog lovers, myself included. In fact, I can be lumped into the category of CRAZY dog lover, as I currently have three large dogs! My sister, is second behind me, having two large dogs. She is also one of my biggest supporters. So with the two things in combination, I often hear, "why don't you make dog themed cards and gifts?" 

     My answer is usually based around the fact that there are always more popular, and common, cards that need to be made. But one day, I had some extra time and I thought it was about time I tried. I thought about how to incorporate a theme that made sense, and not just dogs, dogs, dogs! So I came up with a thank you and a get well....two types of cards that I never have enough of. 

     These are great if you love dogs yourself, or if you need to give something to someone else that loves dogs. I even sold one already :)

Instructions 

coming soon!

From Stampin' Up
Cardstock:
Crumb Cake, Real Red,
Pool Party, Wisper White
Stampin' Markers:
Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip,
Pool Party, Summer Starfruit,
Midnight Muse
Honeycomb embossing folder
Big Shot
Send Me Soaring clear stamps (retired)
Pretty Petites clear stamps(SAB 2013)
DinoRoar clear stamps
clear blocks C and E
Silver brads
Sponge daubers
Snail adhesive

Michael's
Inkadinkadoo clear dog stamps
DCWV Plaid dog themed paper

Week 20 (May 13th) - Sweet Birthday

     I got the layout idea for this card from a book. I am always trying to refresh my ideas by getting inspiration from other places! 

     When I saw the layout with the rectangles, for some reason, I immediately thought of using this paper with the cakes and candies. I have no idea why...perhaps just because I have been struggling with finding a good way to use this paper and this seemed like a nice, simple idea that really highlighted the images. I have had the paper for quite a while, being another awesome Stampin' Up clearance item I picked up because I liked it, not because I knew what to do with it. The brads, however, were a more recent clearance purchase, and when everything came together, I got really excited. I started to see it in my head, but it was still missing something. So I decided to pull out a technique I used over a year ago, adding glitter to sticky paper as an accent (it helps the glitter NOT wind up everywhere but your card!)

     And so this very sparkly, very yummy, very cute birthday card was born!

Instructions coming soon!

All from Stampin' Up
Cardstock:
Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder,
Island Indigo, Calypso Coral
Stampin' Markers:
Pool Party, Island Indigo
Stampin Glitter Dazzling Diamonds
Snail Adhesive
Sweet Shop designer paper (retired)
Jelly Bean brads (retired)
sticky sheets (retired?)

Week 19 (May 6th) - Block floral Get Well

       This is yet another card that I used a technique from our Stampin' Up regional event. We learned how to stamp with clear blocks! Not using clear blocks, as in put a stamp on the block like you would obviously do. But physically stamping with the block. It was the coolest thing!! Looking at the picture, you can probably tell that the orange squares are what I stamped with the blocks. It gives it a very "artsy" and subtle look. Plus, I FINALLY remembered to round some of my corners on this one. I love cards with rounded corners, and I always forget about doing it. It's such a tiny thing that makes a huge impact! 

     I made this card a get well card, as I recently had gotten some feedback that I need more options for them. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

             
Instructions coming soon!

All from Stampin' Up
Cardstock:
Pool Party, Whisper White,
Summer Starfruit
Classic Stamp Pads:
Pool Party, Calypso Coral
clear block C
Blossom Party Originals die cut
Big Shot
Designer Printed Brads Pool Party
(just retired!)
Curvey Verses wood stamps (retired)
Snail adhesive

                     

Week 18 (April 29th) - Bookmarks

     A few weeks ago, I was shopping for some random supplies, and I saw this little journal. I always love to look at journals, and occasionally, I let myself be suckered into buying one. I just HAD to buy it, because it was only a few dollars, and the cover was filled with what seemed like my life themes: Dream, create, smile, etc... It fit me perfectly. THEN I saw the matching rubber stamps that had the same sentiments, and I knew they had to be mine! I had no idea what to do with them...I didn't see them making popular cards. Then I remembered my sister telling me that I needed to make some bookmarks. So, that is what I did, and I think it was a perfect fit!

Instructions coming soon!

From Stampin' Up
Cardstock:
Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango,
Rich Razzleberry
Stampin' Markers:
Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Pool Party
Rich Razzleberry, Summer Starfruit
Sycamore Street designer series paper
Sycamore Street ribbon
(ribbon and paper SAB 2013)
Snail adhesive

Word stamps from Michael's

Week 17 (April 22nd) - Embossed Father's Day

     I have to talk a little bit more about my experience at the Stampin' Up regional event in Baltimore. I learned SO many cool techniques, I will be incorporating them into my work for a while! We saw heat embossing done on black card stock. I don't do much with black, because I am such a color lover, but when I saw how the bright colors popped on the black, I thought it was amazing. The card we saw made some random colored streaks, which was neat. But I have had this hexagon stamp set since Christmas time, and I thought the bright colors with the geometric shapes would be perfect together. I think I was right!

     Since the design elements seemed to have a manly feel to them, I decided to make one more Father's Day card to have in stock for my shows. I have not sold any yet, but there is still plenty of time before Father's Day!

Instructions coming soon!

From Stampin' Up
Cardstock:
Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise
Embossing powder:
Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango, White
Versa Mark ink
Something to Celebrate wood stamps (retired)

hexagon stamps from Stamps of Life