Just Give Me Stamps...

Oh, So Fabulous...

Well, Sunday at Splitcoast means a brand new Featured Stamper Challenge!  Woohoo!  Jenn Balcer is the Featured Stamper this week, and does she ever have some gorgeous creations in her gallery!!  I've always been drawn to her work!  It might have something to with her brilliant use of sparkle, bling, fun colors, and gorgeous DP!  It didn't take me long to choose which card I was going to case!  I'm usually just looking for an excuse to use this wonderful bloom anyway!  This is the card I chose to case.  I added some ribbon to mine (BIG shocker, I know!!) and used some Chatterbox DP.

I had to turn it sideways so much, so that I could get a decent picture of it.  All the sparkle is so wonderful...yet so hard to photograph!  :-)  I'm willing to sacrifice, though!  LOL!!  I tied the ribbon to make it kind of look like a stem...or some leaves.

I hope you all have a wonderful, blessed Sunday!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Fabulous Flowers   Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Chatterbox DP   Ink: Night of Navy craft ink   Other: Stardust Stickles, 5/8" Old Olive grosgrain, Jewels, Ticket corner punch, Tag corner punch

Sweet & Simple Saturday...

Woohooo!  It's the weekend!  It's raining...almost snowing...here right now.  The clouds are hanging very low, covering all of the mountains...it's just so *cozy* being inside!  I've got a good cup of coffee, and a couple of fun cards to share!  (Does it get any better???  :-)

Remember last week's post where I mentioned how fun it was to "go simple"?  I enjoyed it so much I decided to devote Saturday to just that...simple!  So, today's new title is the "theme" that I will keep every Saturday..."Sweet & Simple Saturday".  After my post, I received a couple of comments/email from others who are doing the same thing!!  ((Hugs, Jen!!!)  It must be that you all are wanting to get back to basics a little, as well!  Don't get me wrong...I still love my detailed cards...and won't quit making them anytime in the near future (LOL), but it's also fun for me to have something fast (but still cute) to fall back on when I'm in a hurry.  With the holidays fast approaching (it's now snowing...not just rain...here so it's a bit easier for me to think about), who won't need some fun cards that won't take a lot of time?

For this first card, I really kept it simple!  I let the patterned paper do all the work for me!  LOL!  I also felt with these bold colors (even though they are "Earth Elements" colors, I still consider them bold) that less would be more.  For the pumpkin, I used my Stampin' Write markers to color directly onto the stamp (More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, & some Ruby Red dots) and stamped it onto Whisper White.  I guess, the most time consuming part of this card, was cutting out the pumpkin (and even that didn't take too long...those Paper Snips really make detail cutting a snap!).

For my next card, I went a little more detailed, but it still took under 15 minutes (that includes choosing the colors/stamps).

I kept the same basic layout as my first card, but just tweaked it a little.  I stamped the butterfly onto Regal Rose c.s. and cut it out with my 1 3/8" circle punch.  I then embossed the butterfly with Black e.p. onto Whisper White c.s. and cut it out (to save time, I didn't cut out the antennae).  Then, I attached it to the butterfly that I had stamped on the Regal Rose with two black brads and then "bent" the wings up a little for some dimension.  For the background, I used my So Swirly Jumbo Stampin' Around wheel with Regal Rose ink.

Thanks SO MUCH for coming by today...and I hope you all enjoy your Saturday!  I'll be back tomorrow!  ~Laurie

Recipe (card #1)   Stamps: Dotted Autumn   Paper: Pumpkin Pie Prints DP, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip   Ink: Chocolate Chip, (Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, & Close to Cocoa) Stampin Write markers   Other: Crafter's Took Kit, Vintage brads, Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, Scallop circle punch

Recipe (card #2)   Stamps: Priceless, So Swirly wheel   Paper: Whisper White, Regal Rose, Basic Black   Ink: Versamark, Pretty in Pink pad & marker   Other: Crafter's Tool Kit, Vintage brads, Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Black e.p., White gel pen, Corner Rounder

Weekend Sketch #21...

Happy Friday!  I'm so happy it's the weekend!  It's been such a hectic week, and I am SO ready to relax and have some fun this weekend!  Our crazy Montana weather is at it again!  We had snow this last week...but it's supposed to warm up a little this weekend!  Yay!  We are so going to take advantage of this nice weather!  One of the wonderful things about living way out in the sticks, is that we don't have to go very far to "get away"!  LOL!  So we are going to go a couple of miles from our house, build a campfire, fish, and have a WONDERFUL time!

  This is the card I made for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge.  You guys seriously need to go and check it out!!  It is SOOO much fun!  You can see the sketch and instructions HERE!

The directions for this fun File Folder card are on her site, Fresh & Fun.  For my sample, I used patterned paper from the Wintergreen Collection.  All images were embossed using Iridescent Ice e.p. (what else would you expect from me :-)?  My bow doesn't go all the way around the folder, but is secured under the top layers.  To keep the "folder" part of the card closed, I used a magnetic closing that I got at Eclectic Paperie. 

For some more gorgeous File Folder Card Samples, check out what Beate, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori & Sharon have made!

Make sure you stop back by tomorrow for "Sweet & Simple Saturday"!!  It's just a fun thing I'm doing to challenge myself to get back to basics!  Have a great day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Season of Joy, Short & Sweet   Paper: Whisper White c.s., Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Wintergreen DP   Ink: Sage Shadow, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Versamark   Other: Lg. & Sm. Oval punches, Circle punches, Iridescent Ice e.p., Rhinestone brad, Jewels, 5/8" Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon, Magnetic snaps

Many *Blushing* Thanks...

Good morning!  I'm still out of town...but as promised, I have some "new" stuff to show you! 

 

I started with some of this yuuuuummmy "Blush" DP from Basic Grey.  I stamped my Canvas background on Vanilla c.s. with Creamy Caramel ink.  (To achieve the light, barely-there look...I sponged the ink onto the stamp.)  Then I stamped the flowers (all stamps on this card are from Verve Visual's Fancy Florals set) using Pretty in Pink and Coffee Bean Brilliance ink.  After they were stamped, I used my 1 1/4" square punch to create the perfectly centered squares.  Then, I matted it with some Chocolate Chip c.s. (punched with my 1 3/8" square punch) and "popped" them up with some Stampin' Dimensionals.

I'm not sure you can see all of this from the photo, but there is some Chocolate Chip satin ribbon going over the pink strip (but under the squares).  I "tied" the pink taffeta ribbon to that Chocolate Chip satin ribbon and glued the ends underneath the pink stamped strip.  (I hope that makes sense...it's really late when I'm writing this..LOL!)  For the sentiment, I wanted to "frame it" a little and also tie in the wonderful pattern in the DP, so I chose to use a Die Cut that I made with my Cuttlebug.  Of course, I had to finish it off with some pink jewels!  :-)

Thanks SO much for coming by...and I hope you all have a great day!  I'll be back tomorrow with such a FUN project!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Fancy Florals (from Verve Visual   Paper: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey Blush DP, Very Vanilla   Ink: Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel, Coffee Bean Brilliance, Chocolate Chip   Other: 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" square punches, Cuttlebug, Jewels, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, Pink taffeta ribbon

A Very Merry Santa...

I just couldn't resist doing another Sketch Challenge card!  :-)  Even though I've been using other sets, it's this one that has been on my mind!  I can't get enough of this super cute Santa!

O.K...here's the details.  I started with a 5 1/4" Old Olive card base.  I stamped Santa in Black Stazon ink onto Watercolor paper and then I paper pieced his suit and hat with Real Red c.s.  I used white Liquid Applique on his beard and mustache.  The stars have Red Stickles on them and I put Lime Green Stickles on his buttons.

I wanted to ask you all a question.  Have any of you tried the Craft & Paper Scissors from the Stampin' Up! catalog?  I was hoping that they might help make nice cuts in the new 5/8" grosgrain ribbon.  I've found that if I can make a perfect cut the first time...it looks good.  But this 5/8" grosgrain does not make good "second chance" cuts!!  (By that I mean, re-trimming it once it's already cut.)  Anyway, if you have them, please leave a comment on this post and let me know what you think of them.

I will be out of town (again) for a few days, but I have some cards scheduled to post while I'm gone...so make sure to check back!  Have a wonderful Wednesday!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Naughty or Nice, Short & Sweet   Paper: Watercolor paper, Real Red, Old Olive, Dasher DP   Ink: Black Stazon, Basic Grey   Other: Stickles, Word Window Punch, Jewels, Ribbon, Liquid Applique

Wanted...

  ...More of this Cosmo Cricket DP!!!  Isn't this paper wonderful?  I can't believe I only bought ONE piece!!  What was I thinking??   :-)

I made this card for today's Sketch Challenge over at Splitcoast. I started by cutting an oval in my top layer of DP with my Coluzzle.  The horse is embossed in Chocolate Chip on Ivory Naturals c.s.  I then stamped the Canvas background stamp over it in Creamy Caramel.  I created the "corners" by punching out a square with my 3/4" square punch and cutting them in half.  I roughed up all the edges and did a lot of sponging!  For the finishing touch, I sewed around the edge of the bottom piece of DP.  It was actually a fairly simple card to make!

Have a great day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Wanted, Canvas, Weathered   Paper: Ivory Naturals, Chocolate Chip, Cosmo Cricket Wanted DP   Ink: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Creamy Caramel   Other: Brads, Coluzzle, 5/8" Chocolate grosgrain, 3/4" square punch, Sewing machine

Color Challenge Tuesday...

Good Morning!  I'm sorry that I didn't post anything yesterday.  I actually have several projects done, but my family needed yesterday.  It was just one of those days...the kids were very clingy, the phone rang constantly, my DH gave me a whole list of "Honey-Do's".  So, I just figured that I would devote all of yesterday to them.  I did lots of reading with my little ones...it was great!  But the good news is...that I have a lot of new stuff to show you!!

Here is my card I did for today's Color Challenge:  More Mustard, Old Olive, Bashful Blue.  I started with this piece of DP from Basic Grey's Blitzen line and kind of designed the card from that.  I embossed the trees with Iridescent Ice e.p. (it's hard to see the sparkle, but in real life the trees really glisten)!  The card base size is 5 1/4" square (see, I didn't forget!!!!).  Oh, and that cool eyelet is from We R Memory Keepers (some of the "loot" that I picked up from my trip to the Scrapbook Store)!

Well, I'll be back tomorrow with some more stuff....  Have a great day!  ~Laurie

(I will come back and add the recipe a little later)

A Quick Halloween Card...

Here is the second card I did for today's Featured Stamper challenge!  I made this card the same time as the first one, but I couldn't get a very good picture of this one last night.

I have enjoyed making these quick cards so much, that I'm going to dedicate Saturday's to doing just that!  I'm going to call it "Sweet & Simple Saturday"!  Between browsing (and loving what I was seeing) Kristina's gallery (Starofmay), and the many emails I received from you guys requesting that I do some "simple" cards, I think this will be a fun thing to do!  If you guys want to join in, that would be fun...just leave a comment with a link to your "Sweet & Simple" card!

I chose THIS card of Kristina's to case this time.  I embossed the spiders with Black detail e.p. on Whisper White c.s.  Just for fun, I threw in an extra layer of Black c.s. and tore it at the bottom to "reveal" the Boo! sentiment (that was embossed with White e.p.).  To finish it off, I added some fun Black and White polka dot Organdy ribbon!

Thanks for coming by!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Autumn Apparitions   Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Basic Black   Ink: Versamark   Other: Black detail e.p., White e.p., Ribbon

Soft Guava Thanks...

Today's Featured Stamper in Starofmay!  Her gallery is beautiful!  She certainly has a knack for crisp and eye catching designs!  I chose THIS card of hers to case.

I started with a 3 x 6 1/4" textured Groovy Guava card base.  To create the curve in the Tres Jolie (by My Mind's Eye) patterned paper, I just used a large plate, traced the curve, and cut it out.  I did the same thing with the white layer, but I added some scallops using my corner rounder punch.  To embellish this, I added some White taffeta ribbon and a Prima flower.  Can you believe there's no "sparkle" on this?  I just loved the "clean" look of Kristina's work and I tried to duplicate it.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Word on Word   Paper: Whisper White, Groovy Guava, Patterned Paper by My Mind's Eye   Ink: Versamark   Other: Corner Rounder Punch, White e.p., Prima flower, White taffeta ribbon

Pretty Poinsettia...

Happy Saturday!  I'm back home (on my regular computer) so I can chat, chat away!  LOL!  Just Kidding!  I do want to share something that I did while I was gone.  I'm not sure if you all know this about me, but I live in a very rural area (an hour from the nearest small town) which leaves me with only online craft stores to shop in.  Now, I LOVE my online craft stores (where else would I get my much needed jewels???), but sometimes it's nice to see all the stuff in person.  Well, I actually got to go into a real, honest to goodness scrapbook store!!!   LOL! 

I know...lots of drama...but I did have a wonderful time!  My 8 year old son that was with me, however, didn't have quite as much fun!  Hehehee!  I got some of THE most beautiful embellishments and stuff to alter!  There will be lots of upcoming projects...so stay tuned!

Besides all my chatter...I do have a card to share with you today!  When I first received my Fancy Florals set from Verve Visual, I must say that one of the first things that I thought of was, "Ooooh, this would also make a lovely Poinsettia"!!

I decided to go with more "traditional" colors for this card.  For the white background layer, I first stamped one of the small flowers in Bravo Burgundy on Shimmery White c.s.  I then stamped it with the En Francais background stamp (inked up with Gold Encore). I wanted to "set off" the gold a little more, so I embossed the edges of the Always Artichoke layer with Gold e.p.

For the flower, I stamped the largest flower 3 times in Bravo Burgundy on Shimmery White c.s., cut them out, and layered them so they were slightly offset.  For the smaller flower I first stamped the bolder part in Burgundy (just like I did the larger ones), but then I stamped the outline stamp (that goes with it) in Versamark and embossed it in gold.  I have to say that's one of the things I love most about this set...there are SO many different elements that all match together!  For the leaves, I just stamped the medium sized flower in Always Artichoke and cut the "petals" apart.  For the finishing touch, I added a Gold tinted pearl brad.  I'm sorry, I don't know who makes this as I received it as a gift.

Thanks for visiting!  Have a wonderful weekend!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Fancy Florals (Verve Visual), All Holidays, En Francais   Paper: Shimmery White c.s.,  Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy   Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke, Gold Encore, Versamark   Other: Gold e.p., Burgundy 5/8" grosgrain, Pearl Brad, Crafter's Tool Kit, Corner Rounder punch