Yesterday when I introduced you to my friend, and fellow embosser Cin, I neglected to mention that she has a very fun card swapping group called Embossing Exchange.  If you love embossing the way Cin and I do, and would enjoy sharing your card ideas through a themed card swap, please check us out at:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Embossing-Exchange/

Recently,  Cin hosted a Same Game Challenge whereby she sent the same embossed pieces to everyone who signed up to do the challenge and we all had to create an idea using the same piece.  Here’s what Nettie came up with and it’s timely because it’s a Valentine Card I actually have not posted yet … imagine that!

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Embossing joys, Donna

Barbara loves to make tags and here are 3 darling ones for that Valentine Gift you have ready to give to your special someone on Tuesday!

And here are Barbara’s Valentines using the new L9735 Flourish Hearts, Raspberry Creme, Strawberry Creme, Chocolate Truffle, L.I. Thread, Ribbons, Buttons and Scuffers.  The second card she teamed with an Oval Nestibility.  Did I mention how great Lasting Impressions works with Nestibility Dies?  Take a look:

My friend Cin , and long time L.I. embosser, recently sent me these two Valentine ideas:

Cin used an old favorite on her first card, L9223 Logs and L9720 for her chalkboard. 

And last, but certainly not least, here’s a couple of last minute cuties from Nettie using new Template L9733 (Feb 14), Banner M13 with Strawberry Creme, Powdered Sugar, and L.I. Rub-on’s, brads, and Scuffers.  Second card is L9629 Heart Flowers and B216 Border, with new Lily Pad cardstock, Guava Dots, Guava Wash, Powdered Sugar, Scuffers and Stickles.

Watch for St. Patrick Day ideas coming soon!  Embossing joys, Donna

Nettie is REALLY creative and I’m not sure where she comes up with these ideas, but her latest is a healthy version to a Valentine project.  Take a look at her cute Robots!

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These little guys are a clever way to decorate a raisin box, a tub of AppleSauce and some Fruit Juice!  She used L9064 (United We Stand Heart) with the new Raspberry Creme, Strawberry Creme, and Watering Can Dots cardstock.  Then she made a cute bag of Gold Fish Crackers with a saying she found at http://www.tammymitchellphotography.com/2011/02/11/make-this-homemade-valentines-o-fish-ally-be-mine/

She used L9366 (Kiss Me) with Caribbean Dots, Blue Jeans, Sweet Tomato Solid, Lemon Tart, and Citrus cardstock.  Very cute, Nettie!  More ideas tomorrow as Valentine’s Day quickly approaches!

Embossing Joys,   Donna

  Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and we’ve given you just a peek at some L.I. Valentine Samples on the Home Page.  Here’s a complete look at our wonderful ideas using new Valentine Templates and the latest papers:

You will find these new templates and paper under “Shop” on the Home Page.  Look for us to show you more new ideas tomorrow!  Embossing joys, Donna

As you know, for the next 3 months, we will be showing you how to make Coaster Calendars.  So far, we’ve seen January and February.  Here’s March, soon to be followed by April’s.  I’ve also posted a photo of the coaster holder I use with my Calendars.  You can find these business card holders at Office Depot or Staples.  I like the clear ones so nothing covers the coaster design.  They are inexpensive too!

Here are some more Valentines … created with the new Valentine Templates you will find on the Home Page under “Shop” and “New Products,” along with Lasting Impressions’ latest new papers.  Please also peruse the “Valentine Shop” listed under the New Products’ heading.  You will find some wonderful oldies but goodies!

Nettie’s first card:  Heart Flowers L9629 and Circle template L9125 with Lily Pad Plaid and Dots, Caribbean Dots, Watering Can Solid, Guava, and Sunflower.  I love the way Nettie tears and layers her paper.  Remember to tear the paper color-side up and towards you to get a white edge.

Nettie’s second card is the new Feb 14 Template L9733 with Strawberry Creme, Raspberry Truffle and Raspberry Creme.  She also L.I. thread to “stitch” her card.  Very effective, don’t you think?

Here’s one I made with the new Flourish Template L9735 using the new Watering Can paper.  I love this new gray!

The second card I use SWAK L9634 with Fondant, Watering Can Solid, and Split Pea Check.

We’ve got more to come!  Embossing Joys and Valentine Hugs, Donna

The Design Team has had a ball designing new Valentines!  Take a look at these:

Barbara “pinched” Heidi’s hanging monkey idea and use L9700 and L9457 Mini Hearts with new L.I.’s paper “Lily Pad” in Vine, Reverse Vine, and Solid.  Chocolate, Sweet Tomato Vine and Solid, Hyacinth, Fondant, Guava Dots, Sunburn, and Weathered Black.  Her second card is L9632 Love Tag, L9457 Mini Hearts, L9469 Mums, L9097 Flower/Bug, and L9125 Circles with cardstock Fudge Wash, Sweet Tomato in Solid and Vine, Lily Pad and Chocolate.  Cinnamon Brads from L.I. and Scalloped Nestibility.

Heidi has used L9693 and L9697 Hearts to make her two cards using new paper “Caribbean” and “Watering Can,” along with “Guava.”

Nettie made a couple of square cards.  She used L9695 Heart for both cards.  Her first card is mounted on new “Watering Can” paper.  She used L9497 and L9692 hearts for the background with Powdered Sugar paper.  The L.I. Ribbon is Beet Red.  The second card is with “Lily Pad” and I sure like this new, bright lime green paper.  Nettie has done some fun paint splattering behind her heart and used Colored Impressions Software for the wording.

This first card is by Erinne using some of L.I.’s wonderful older paper and I wanted you to see how I did it using the new paper “Sweet Tomato” in Vine and Reverse Vine.  Erinne and I both use L9629 and her spring colors have been my favorite for a while now and I was anxious to pinch her design and try it.  Two very different looks!  I also used Elementary Solid, Tim Holtz Distressed Ink, L.I. Buttons, Ribbons and Thread with Colored Impressions Software for the wording.

More cards to come so stay tuned!  Embossing Joys, Donna

  Today I have posted three February Coaster Calendar Ideas.  One I did a couple of years ago and then a second one using L.I.’s new paper, Sweet Tomato Vine,  Reverse Vine and Solid. The third one is much like the second one, only I added a  small heart.

L9378                                                         L9360 and M22

                                             L9182 and M22

If you intend to use just 6 coasters for your yearly calendar, using both sides of the coaster, you will have to be careful to line up your designs “just right” so the design doesn’t show on the other side as I’ve done with the first coaster.  If you are going to use 12 coasters, one for each month, you can play a bit more with the design and have some of the design go well above or beyond the coaster sides as in coaster number two.  Here are a couple more Valentine Cards to inspire you and be sure and look at “New Products,” under Shop on the Home Page for L.I.’s newest Valentine Templates and paper!

Barbara used L9632 and L9457 with new paper Caribbean Vine, Reverse Vine, Solid and Dot and also Lily Pad Solid.  

Nettie made a door hanger with a new bird template (L9727) and heart (L9695).  She used Cardstock: Powdered Sugar, Old Lace with Distressed Ink and Watering Can Solid.  Scrappy Rubs for the wording.  She used a Nestibility Die Cut for the main hanger, Scuffers, Petal Pink buttons and ribbon.  On the “I Love U” card, Nettie used L9695, L9064, and M13.  She used Cardstock: Poppy Solid, Fudge Solid, Chocolate Paisley, Powdered Sugar, and a marker on the small red hearts.  Root Beer Buttons, Thread, Scuffers and Scrappy Rubs for wording.

Thank you, Barbara and Nettie!  Embossing joys, Donna

I think I left a few of you wondering how to make the calendars themselves!  As mentioned, first go to:  http://www.redcastle.com/software/fw/printcal.htm

Download the calendar program and choose 2.250 Width, 1.562 Height, with the month and the year printed.  I use “heavy lines” so that when I cut the months out, I can leave a thin black line around each calendar month.  Then print, cut out each month, and then I like to back up each month with a colored cardstock border … from Lasting Impressions, of course!  Then I use clear photo corners to mount the months on the colored background so that I can change the calendar out each year without having to change the border.    Look for our February Calendar comping up next week along with more Valentines!

Embossing joys,   Donna

Not only will the Design Team begin with their Coaster Calendar ideas, for the next couple of months, but we will also show off some very neat Valentines to start the new year off “sweet.”  February 14th is just around the corner, you know!

  Nettie begins our Valentine treats with two very sweet cards:

Nettie used templates L9254, L9497, L9481 and L9456.  Don’t you love the new turquoise Caribbean Paper she used in the first card?  She also used a L.I. Scrappy Rub for the “love,” some white thread and her scuffers.  Notice how she tears and layers her paper and then inks the edges to make them stand out.  I love the new “ivy” print paper. 

Nettie’s second card shows off some “summer love,” using Powdered Sugar, Limeade Plaid, Sweet Tomato, Creamsicle, Sunflower Circles, Smooth Sailing White Dots, and Watering Can Solid.  Don’t you love the tiny clothes pins she used to hang her hearts from #L9497?  I believe you can find those at your local craft store.  The clothes line was made by using the stem of #L9254.  The clouds, believe it or not, are from the soda together template #L9456.  Nettie is so clever, mixing her template designs around, don’t you agree? Here are a couple more card ideas from Nettie:

Here Nettie used L9457 and M26 with cardstock Powdered Sugar, new paper Lily Pad Vine and Reverse Vine, Lily Pad Solid and Guava Solid.  She also used L.I.’s buttons and thread and some more Scrappy Rubs for the wording.  I love the way she used real stitching and didn’t quite finish the borders … don’t you? 

Nettie’s second card has a wonderful XO background, L9692, embossed on Powdered Sugar Cardstock (and slightly pink-inked).  The heart is L9695.  She used Sweet Tomato Solid and Plaid, added a couple of L.I. Buttons and Thread and Scuffers.

Thanks so much for starting our Valentines this month, Nettie.  I can’t wait to see what’s next.  Embossing joys,   Donna

Happy New Year everyone.  As promised, here’s a peek at our first monthly coaster calendar!

Barbara used L9521 (Penguins) and L960 (Dot) templates.  Cardstock: Caribbean Plaid, Lily Pad Dots, Weathered Black, Weathered White, Silver and Tangerine.  You can find small pom-poms at your local craft store for the penguin’s hat.  Look how adorable this is:

If you don’t have a calendar program, you can easily download one from this site for free:

http://www.redcastle.com/software/fw/printcal.htm

You can display your calendar using a business card holder from your local office supply store.  I’ve made numerous sets as Christmas gifts and I use both sides of the coaster so that each set contains 6 coasters.  I use clear photo corners for my monthly inserts so that all I have to do, for the following year, is simply pop last year’s calendars out and insert the new year.  Just wait until you see February!

Embossing joys,   Donna