Thank You Card

Teaching dance can be stressful - just like anything.  But when I don't have control it tends to freak me out.  Case in point, two weeks ago when my Geisha costumes weren't done.  I talked to one of our administrators at the dance school and found out that only ONE costume had been made! And the kids were set to compete in 4 days!  Talk about stress.

Long story short, the seamstress really came through and completed all 5 costumes by Sunday night (with only one mock up done on Thursday)!  And I showed up on Monday morning at the competition with the costumes. Needless to say the girls were thrilled.  And so was I!  So we made a card for our seamstress to show her our appreciation.

I brought it to the studio for all the students to sign! 

 It was so sweet.

Giveaway Sneak Peak

Y'all didn't forget about my giveaway right?  

You've got a week left to enter!  

And believe you me you've got a pretty good chance of winning!  

Make sure to leave a comment on this blog post to enter to win!

Here we are working hard on them

Here's my bestie Rachel working on her cards.  

PS she thinks she's going to win, so make sure to enter!

Here's "Aunty" Heather.  

The table is so clean in this picture - it was early in the day!

And here's a sneak peak of some of the cards

Giveaway Time

Hi There Try To Keep Up! Readers

As promised today I'm announcing my 

first holiday giveaway of the season!

The first giveaway is......

drumroll please....... 

a set of 12 handmade Christmas cards (envelopes included). 

Each card will be themed with a traditional Christmas carol and corresponding image(s).

So how do you win these lovelies?   

Leave a comment on this blog post and tell me what your favourite Christmas Carol is.  It can be anything; Alvin and the Chipmunks, Michael Buble (a personal favourite of mine) or my all time favourite Christmas song....."Merry Christmas Happy Holidays' by non other than *NSYNC!  Haven't heard it?  Click on that link and go watch the video in all it's cheesy 1998 goodness.

But before you go make sure to leave me a comment with you favourite Christmas song.  

Contest closes Wednesday October 31!  

Contest winners will be selected at random and announced on Friday November 2nd!

Stashbusting September

Yes!  It's back!  Stashbusting September with Robin over at the T-Shirt Diaries is back for another wonderful installment of STASHBUSTING! 

I know it totally sucks to think about September, but it'll be here before you know it!  So if you want to get in on the fun, sign up for Stashbusting September right now!  For all the deets about this awesome month of upcycling check out Robin's blog

Not to mention, yours truly will be guest posting over at the T-Shirt Diaries during Stashbusting September.  So make sure to check back to find out when I'll be hopping over to bust some stash!

AND I'll be donating a great stash-busted prize to Stashbusting September!  So you'll definiately want to join in the busting to win some lovely handmades from me!  Only blogs who have signed up for Stashbusting Spetmber can win-so get over there!

I can't wait to see what other peeps have stashbusted...

I know I have A LOT of glass jars in my garage and no clue what to do with them!

Vintagey Wedding Card

I made 2 wedding cards last week and sadly I sealed one up before I remember to take some pics BUT never fear for here is my vinatge-y wedding card.

I made this card for my sister in law (we'll call her Sil from now on, how's that?).  She and her boyfriend Drew are going to a wedding here in Vancouver today!  So I offered to make a card for her to give to the happy couple. 

Plus I really like making cards, or didn't you notice?

~ front ~

~ inside ~

~personalized matching envelope ~

I don't have an etsy shop or anything, but I'm always open to making cards for anyone who asks.  Simply send me an email at westcoastleslie@gmail.com and we can chat about the theme and colour (and price) that's right for you!

Belated Birthday Card

I love making homemade cards (duh).  I love clever quotes, cute designs, and funky patterns.  Unfortunately I often forget the actual day of some people's birthdays......but in my defense I remember the month.  Anywho, here is the first of three cards I've created for 3 great friends.

You know that friend that always tells you the truth, even if you really don't want to hear it.  The friend who knows WAY TOO much about you-in fact because she knows so much you can never not be friends...yeah she's my bestie and she  lives in Toronto (Ontario).  We went through college together, lived together (briefly), she's over all wonderful and I forgot her birthday.  So here's my belated birthday card for Rachel.

First I started by stamping the entire background

in a light yellow to create a tone on tone pattern.

Then I inked the edges and glued on

this cute retro housewife image!

Then I cut out 2 word bubbles and inked them to match.

It took me a while to figure out exactly what

I wanted to say...I mean I knew what I wanted to

say just not how to say it.

"I don't want to gossip but....I think you

should think about getting some new friends......"

"...because this one forgot your birthday!"

Clever right?  It's a little sassy, and I know that I can only use this kind of language on a card to this type of friend...y'know what I mean?  Anywho, I think it's cute and I hope she does too!  More cards to come-stay tuned :)

Linkin' Up To

My First 10 on 10

Well here it is-December 10th 2010 and here I am with my first 10 on 10!

11am

All prepared to get my christmas cards and letters stuffed.  Took the photo on Tuesday night, uploaded it to Costco Wednesday day, ordered online Wednesday night, picked them up Thursday!  That's what I call efficient!

12pm

Stuffed, Sealed, Stamped-I'm yours! (I love Stevie Wonder!)

1pm

still stuffing a few.....I got a few late addresses come in via Facebook!  Just in the nick of time

2pm

frustratingly trying to get a hold of Toys R Us to see if the gift I want to buy is in stock...I was on the line for 5 minutes until I was diconnected. The other number just rang & rang & rang.... buh.  Do you see my chai tea? The only thing keeping me sane!

3pm

Out and About.  Letters in the mail before 4 pm so people around North America get them by next week!

4pm
Driving Home....Fraser Highway; I use the term hiway loosely.  The speed limit is 60 kph and it two way traffic-meaning 1 lane in each direction!


5pm
Dinner time.  I made beef & broccoli stirfry with ginger and oyster sauce.  So delcious.  I will definately post the recipe soon!  It's too good not to share!

6pm

Hot cholcoate time.  This was brought back from Mexico for us and we hadn't tried it yet.  Sadly all the instructions were in Spanish....luckily I know what con leche means-with milk.  And litre is litro....we figured it out. 

  It was delicious...a little bit cinnamony!

7pm

It's a Wrap.  Wrapping the gift I bought today!!!! So excited.  I hope they like it!

8pm

Relaxing and watching a little HBO!  This is a scene from Eastbound & Down starring the very funny Danny McBride.  Not to be viewed if you are easily offended or don't enjoy the comedy stylings of Will Ferrell-he is one of the executive producers!

I was really looking forward to 10 on 10, which I almost forgot.  It's a difficult challenge, mainly becuase you're so wraped up in your 'to do' list, that you forget to take the time to stop!  Look for another installment on Januaty 10 2011!

New Goodies

I did something today that I never thought I would do.  I purchased items from the Martha Stewart craft line!  I was at Wal-Mart and saw a glitter stamp kit for $30.  It didn't seem that hot for $30, but I noticed there were individual glue pads and tri-colour glitter at more reasonable prices.  So I bought them.  I thought "How gorgeous to add a little sparkle to my stamps?"

So I got right to it and kept on cranking out some truly lovely cards for What The Heck Wednesday.

Here they are in all their glory!

Everything's Not Lost - Coldplay

Sympathy card with corresponding stamped envelope

What A Wonderful World-Louis Armstrong

Any occasion card with corresponding stamped enveloped (not shown)

Everytime We Say Goodbye-Cole Porter

Sympathy/Farewell Card with corresponding stamped envelope

In case you forgot, here's how to enter to win these

 "Crooner Cards"

To enter to win September's prize from Leslie:


1) Leave a comment letting me (JILL) know what you'd do with the tapes (1 entry per comment, multiple comments welcome) Feel free to leave links to your own projects! I love seeing what you've made!

2) Become a follower & leave a comment (if you're already a follower, leave a comment to remind me)

3) Leave some comment love on Leslie's blog (and come back here to let me (JILL) know in a comment)

Birthday Card

Yup, more cards.  It's my thing right now.  I really should be working on my scrapbooking.  I'm currently working through a 21 day road trip down the West Coast.  We drove from Vancouver to San Diego and back-highly recomended.  The trip sprung out of the fact that I had never been to Disneyland before (I was 21 at the time) so we thought what better time to go?  Disneyland is just as amazing for adults (I grew up in the heyday of Disney animated movies-think Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin)

This weekend was my friend's birthday, and while I was busy working on my lamp update I knew that I had to make this card.  She is a fellow teacher at my studio and I knew I had until Wednesday to get it done.  Since Monday was a holiday, today would be the first day we'd both be at the studio!

I love this template and the ribbon accents!  I'm all about trying to incorporate ribbon into my desgins. 3-D accents add a little extra umph!

And just to whet your appetite, here are some more

What The Heck Wednesday Cards!

What The Heck Wednesday Sneak Peak

In talking to my sis about my contribution to What The Heck Wednesdays, I searched high and low for a theme for the cards I'm making-which will end up as a prize for a very special winner!!!  I didn't know if they should be blank inside, Christmas themed, friendship....I'm very bad at making decisions.

So I started stamping this morning, hoping inspiration would strike.  IT DID!  I love quotes, it's probably half the reason I scrapbook.  I feel like so many of life's moments can be summed up with a great quote.  I like Oscar Wilde quotes in particular.  In fact one of the first cards I ever made for Ty was a hand sketched beer mug with the Oscar Wilde quote "Work is the curse of the drinking class".  Not only is it funny, it's super appropriate for an engineering student, which if you didn't know tend to party pretty hard in university.

Anyway, back to the theme.  I was thinking about some of my favourite love songs, since I was making a love card when it hit me.  Crooner Cards!  All of the cards I make for WTHW will have lyrics from a song by a crooner (Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Harry Connick Jr, Michael Buble, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, maybe some Beatles even though they aren't crooners etc etc).  I will try my best to select lyrics that other people will recognize and appreciate! 

Here's a sneak peak!

That's all for now!

Little Girl Birthday Card

OK, I think I have the cutest cousins....but doesn't everyone?  Any who, my 2nd cousin Layla is turning 1 year old next week, and even though she won't really appreciate this card I know her 5 year old sister Ava and mum & dad really will!!!!!

Layla's Birthday Card

All together now...awwwwwwww :)

Dress attached with jewelery loops

So, the card is made out of folded light pink cardstock to give it some weight so it doesn't fall over.  I then used the same patterned paper I used here on Meagan's card.  I searched through my chipboard embellishments, which I'm totally guilty of not using very often.  They are, for the most part children themed, and since I don't have kids, don't really have a use for them ALL that often?!?!  SO I went with a green & pink motif (obviously) based on the chip board I liked.  I thought the dresses were cute, and decided to "hang" them from a "clothesline".  Sadly this faboosh idea happened AFTER I have already applied the ribbon to the card with glue dots.....

  I pierced the chipboard with my poker (technical term) and inserted the jewelry loops.  Then I pierced a small hole in the ribbon (which was easy) and painstakingly threaded the jewelry loop into the ribbon so it would literally hang.  I did attach the dresses to the card front with adhesive.  I didn't want them rattling around for a 1 year old to pull off the card and swallow!

On the inside I printed an easy to read message, mainly so Ava (who's five) could read it aloud.  Yes, I used purple sharpie!  Then I recycled my heart idea from here to add a little more to the inside of the card.  It was too boring without it.

While I was stamping the hearts I had another great idea.....I could use the heart stamp as a balloon!!!! So if anyone would like to try out a card challenge, it is to make a balloon card using hearts in one way or another!  Looking forward to seeing what you can create!!!!    I will post my heart balloon card next week!!!!