A Butterfly for Mom

My friend Gisela and I created this card after finding inspiration in our Summer Mini Catalog.

Butterflies are all over, especially at this time of year. I see them in every size, shape and color. Wherever you look, you're bound to see a butterfly: magazines, books, gardens, bookmarks. They are so delicate, fragile, lovely, beautiful and unique that each time I see one, a smile comes across my face and a feeling of God's beauty fills my heart.

That's why after having these feelings, I've decided to dedicate this card to all the mother's in the world. Mother's Day is just around the corner, but for me, there is not only one day to celebrate Mother's Day.

God bless all the mothers in the world and let's celebrate them for one reason or another, or simply for giving birth...they deserve the best!
Enjoy!

Cardstock: Sahara Sand (121043), Pacific Point (111350), Very Vanilla (101650)
Designer Series Paper: Blueberry Crisp (117392)
Stamp Sets: Strength and Hope (W 118100, C 123660), Something To Celebrate (W 121897, C 121955)
Ink: Sahara Sand (105208), Pacific Point (111837), Soft Suede (115657)
Embellishments: Basic Rhinestones (119246)
Ribbon: Linen Thread (104199)
Punches: Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309)

Just a Little Note...

The other day, one of my daughter's friend came over to my house and she was surfing the Web. Some pictures she was looking at caught my attention, so I immediately asked her what page she was on. She said "stumbleupon.com" and that it had some really cool ideas.

I later went on the site and it's great! It shows you different pages according to your likes. If you like design, or photography, or cooking, crafts (and I can go on and on), it shows you pages of inspiration for each category. You can find tons of inspiration in decoration, design, and for those days when I cannot combine two colors together, or I am not inspired to do anything, just looking at the pictures makes me want to start creating my cards.

I learned how to make the flower inside this card from that Web site.

I hope you find something that inspires you, too! Have a great day! Enjoy!

Cardstock: So Saffron (105118), Wild Wasabi (105125), Tangerine Tango (111349), Very Vanilla (101650)
Designer Series Paper: Greenhouse Gala (117167)
Stamp Set: Apple Blossoms (W 118531, C 120139; Hostess Level Two) --> You can get this stamp set for free if you host a workshop of at least $300. If you're interested, just contact me and I'll tell you more!
Ink: Tangerine Tango (111834)
Embellishments: Basic Pearls (119247)
Ribbon: Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta (119254)
Punches: Modern Label (119849), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (119275)

Mojo 188

Today, I made this flower out of circles. To read about this technique, click here. For this card, I was inspired by the colors in our new Designer Series Paper Paisley Petals (I love it!).

As the sentiment says, can you imagine being a queen for a day? I think I wouldn't have the wildest idea of what that would be like...not only being a queen but also living in a castle for a day! I think I picked this sentiment because Prince William's wedding is coming up and I've been seeing him and his fiancee in every magazine, newspaper, on the Web, just everywhere! So that's why I thought about being a queen, lol!

By the way, I don't know about you, but I already let Queen Elizabeth know I won't make it to the wedding...I will be too busy stamping! ;)
I hope you like my creation and have a great day!
Enjoy!

Cardstock: Tangerine Tango (111349), Marina Mist (119682), Bravo Burgundy (105123), Old Olive (100702), Whisper White (100730)
Designer Series Paper: Paisley Petals (122367)
Stamp Set: You're a Gem (122270)
Embellishments: Vintage Trinkets (118764)
Punches: Eyelet Border (119853), 1-3/8" Circle (119860)
Bigz Die: Scallop Circle #2 (113469)
Embosslits Die: Beautiful Wings (118138)

Pals Paper Arts Challenge (PPA90)

This week we have a sketch challenge at Pals Paper Arts!
For this card, I applied the technique I demonstrated at the Orlando Regional. To view this technique, click here!
As I said yesterday, Soft Sky is one of the discontinued colors that I really miss and wish they would bring back!
I hope you like my creation for today. It's really simple, but elegant I think.
Happy Easter!! Celebrate, my friends!
God bless you all and enjoy!

Cardstock: Very Vanilla (101650), Pink Pirouette (100459), Crumb Cake (120953), Soft Sky (discontinued)
Designer Series Paper: Baroque Motifs (113490)
Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue (W 117690, C 118598)
Ink: Soft Sky (discontinued), Certainly Celery (105217), VersaMark (102283)
Embossing Powder: Clear (109130)
Ribbon: Old Olive 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain (115618)

colourQ Challenge #81

I simply love the colors for this week's colourQ challenge. I really miss Soft Sky, along with Kiwi Kiss, which Stampin' UP! discontinued and hasn't put back in the market. Boo hoo!! I really hope they bring them back in the new catalog!
For this card, I used the "Faux Pressed Flowers" technique. To learn more about it, click here.
I hope you like my creation and have a Happy Easter (for those of you who celebrate it)! I think that these colors really are very suitable for Easter. God bless you all!
Enjoy!

Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Old Olive (100702), So Saffron (105118), Daffodil Delight (119683), Soft Sky (discontinued)
Stamp Set: Cute By The Inch (W 116992, C 120130; Hostess Level Two). Simply host a qualifying workshop of $300 and you can get this set for free! If you don't know a demonstrator who can place the order for you, simply contact me and I can do it for you.
Ink: Soft Suede (115657)
Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (117335)
Ribbon: Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta (119254)
Punches: Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309)
Bigz Die: Tasteful Trim (120893)
Cool Stuff: Paper Daisies (119243)

Happy Easter!

My friend Gisela Lemus created this card and I just thought it was so cute!
So, Happy Easter to all of you who celebrate it! Enjoy!

Mojo Monday with passion

I love magazines, but not just any magazine that only tells gossip. I love those magazines that transmit a message or are inspiring. So, each time I go to a bookstore or a craft store, I try to look for something new that catches my attention.

Doing so, I found this specific publication called Artful Blogging, which is part of Somerset Studio publications. What was it about this magazine that caught my attention? It wasn't only the name Artful Blogging, but also the pictures, which captured the inspiration for each blog. Each blogger found inspiration through different means, and they tried to express themselves through their blog.

When I read the magazine, I learned that no matter what you do, you have to do it with a passion, find your inner voice, and show it through your blog or whatever you're doing...the rest falls into place naturally. This concept really changed my perspective, because even though I always preached "do things with a passion," it is now that I realize that I feel it inside me and before this moment, "do things with a passion" was not embedded so deep inside me like I feel it now. It's hard to express it with words, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

I hope you find your inner voice and your passion, too! Enjoy my creation for Mojo Monday! God bless you all.

Cardstock: So Saffron (105118), Old Olive (100702), Night Of Navy (100867), Very Vanilla (101650)
Stamp Sets: For All You Do (115360), Flight Of The Butterfly (111564)
Ink: Cherry Cobbler (119669), Soft Suede (115657)
Embellishments: Basic Rhinestones (119246)
Ribbon: Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Seam Binding
Punches: Large Tag (119876), Butterfly (119848), Scallop Edge Border (119882)
Cool Stuff: Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Mat Pack (105826)

The Paper Players Clean and Simple Challenge #43

I love simple cards. This sketch for The Paper Players is clean and simple. Sometimes, simple is more classy and elegant than embellishing the card with a lot of details.
I love to embellish cards, but I'm glad that The Paper Players picked a simple sketch this week because, to be honest, I wasn't in the mood to work on the card a lot.
I hope you like my creation, and have a great day!
Enjoy!!

Cardstock: Certainly Celery (105125), Pink Pirouette (111351), Melon Mambo (115320), Daffodil Delight (119683), Shimmery White (101910)
Stamp Set: Just Believe (W 116948, C 120453)
Ink: Soft Suede (115657)
Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (117335)
Embellishments: Basic Rhinestones (119246)
Punches: Two-Step Bird (117191), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (119275), Word Window (119857)

colourQ Challenge #80

This is the first time I participate in the colourQ Challenge! For this challenge, we have to use Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Tangerine Tango and Kiwi Kiss (which has been discontinued). I miss Kiwi Kiss so much! It's a lovely green full of energy. I must seem crazy talking about color like if it were a person, but that's just how I feel about color.
I hope you like my creation. I had a lot of fun making this card. Again, I was inspired by our Idea Book & Catalog 2011.
Enjoy!

Cardstock: Crumb Cake (120953), Whisper White (100730), Cherry Cobbler (119685), Tangerine Tango (111349), Kiwi Kiss (discontinued)
Stamp Set: Sincere Salutations (115068)
Ink: Soft Suede (115657)
Markers: Soft Suede (120973)
Buttons: Corduroy Kiwi Kiss (discontinued)
Bigz Die: Island Floral (118871)
Tools: Color Spritzer (107066), Big Shot
Cool stuff: Color Catcher (121093), Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772)

Decorative Trim Color Trends Challenge

I love green and orange hues. The challenge for Embellish Magazine uses greens and for this particular card I used Always Artichoke, River Rock and Old Olive. The butterfly is painted on Kiwi Kiss cardstock.

For this card, I was inspired by a card on our Idea Book & Catalog 2011. This catalog is really a source of inspiration, and it is a very useful tool at our fingertips.
Sometimes, we surf the Web, visiting different blogs, magazines and books, and the inspiration is around us in the most simple things. Most of the time, I simply open up our catalog and get inspired right away!

I hope you like my creation for this challenge! Enjoy!

NOTE: To paint the butterfly, I clear embossed the swirls from Baroque Motifs on a piece of Kiwi Kiss cardstock. I then used the daubers and dabbed on Marina Mist and Poppy Parade ink pads, then dabbed on the piece of Kiwi Kiss cardstock (which was already clear embossed). The Baroque Motifs swirls with clear emboss are ink resistant, so you can see the Kiwi Kiss through the embossing.
Once I got the desired effects and colors, I cut the butterfly using the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die with the Big Shot. Finally, I sprayed the butterfly with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz and added the body with the beads.
Don't be afraid to play around with colors, it's so much fun!

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie (105117), Always Artichoke (105119), River Rock (108640), Old Olive (100702), Kiwi Kiss (discontinued), So Saffron (105118)
Designer Series Paper: Paisley Prints (122367)
Stamp Set: Baroque Motifs (113490)
Ink: VersaMark (102283), Soft Suede (115657), Poppy Parade (119782), Marina Mist (119668)
Embossing Powder: Clear (109130)
Ribbon: 5/8" Crochet Trim Victoria
Punches: 1-3/8" x 5/8" Oval (119863), Scallop Trim Border (118402)
Bigz Die: Beautiful Butterflies (114507)
Embosslits Die: Beautiful Wings (118138)
Tools: Heat Tool (100005)
Cool stuff: Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772), Sponge Daubers (102892)

Mojo Monday 186

This is the last month to order products from the Occasions Mini Catalog. If you don't have it, you can download it from my blog (on the left column) or from my web page www.garcialilianan.stampinup.net. If you prefer me to mail it to you, just let me know. I'll be glad to do it for you!

I hope you like my creation for this week's Mojo Monday. Our handy dandy Color Coach (#121046) really helps me combine colors. It's amazing how much easier it is to match colors with this wonderful tool. If you don't have one, I highly recommend you get one!
Enjoy! And have a great day!

Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Pacific Point (111350), Cajun Craze (119684)
Designer Series Paper: Paisley Prints (122367)
Stamp Set: Elements of Style (W 118611, C 120045)
Ink: Early Espresso (119670)
Embellishments: Basic Pearls (119247)
Ribbon: 5/8" Crochet Trim Victoria (118481), Linen Thread (104199)
Punches: 1-3/4" Scallop Circle (119854), 1-3/8" Circle (119860)
Cool stuff: Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Mat Pack (105826)

The Paper Players Color Challenge

I'm back!!! After a week of not blogging, I am finally back on track.
Last week was a very busy week; I had to model a girl for a cake topper for a Communion and believe it or not, it took me three days because I can't model it all at once. I have to make the different parts, let them dry, and then assemble them together.
On top of that, my mom came from Argentina for a visit and I've been really enjoying her visit as much I can. We did a lot of catching up, but we still have things to tell each other.
I hope you like my creation today. This week at The Paper Players we have Poppy Parade, So Saffron and Baja Breeze, such a nice combination!
Enjoy!

And here's the finished product of my little Communion girl:

Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), So Saffron (105118), Baja Breeze (111352)
Designer Series Paper: Pawsitively Prints II (117396)
Stamp Set: Chic Boutique (113744)
Embellishments: Basic Pearls (119247)
Ribbon: Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding (122331)
Bigz Dies: Matchbox (114890)
Tools: Big Shot (113439)

Cards for a Baptism

I have to apologize for the last couple of days...I've been neglecting my blog!
The good news is that I've been keeping busy with my cards and cakes.
I leave you with two cards I designed this week for a Baptism...and a little something I've been modeling for my friend's daughter's Communion.
Hope you like it! Enjoy!

My recent blog neglect has been due to this beautiful Communion girl cake topper. I modeled this one for a Communion, and my friend asked me to do another one for her daughter's Communion...the one I'm currently working on is kneeling down...I'll post up the finished product soon! Enjoy!