Just Give Me Stamps...

A Western Merry Christmas...

Last night, it started snowing right after dinner time here.  It was the really big, gorgeous flakes....the kind that not only sticks, but accumulates pretty quickly!  It definitely helped to put me into the Christmas card making "spirit"!  I don't know about you guys, but I make several different types of Christmas cards.  Some, I make pretty elaborate (which also equals time consuming)...some are fairly simple (easy to mass produce)...and others are somewhere in between.  Well, last night I was working on the easier ones.  I wanted something that could be easily mass produced, but still "pretty"!  :-)  As I was in the middle of creating...my DH came over to see.  I could tell right away that he wasn't too pleased...hehehee.  He was trying so hard to find a way to tactfully say, "Can't you make something a little less 'girly'"?  So, I started another one...definitely less "girly".  I do plan on using both types. (I will share the "girly" one with you tomorrow)

 

I had the hardest time making this card!!  I kept trying to add ribbon...then talking myself out of it (after all it was supposed to be "manly"), then trying to add ribbon...then talking myself out of it.  LOL!!  Finally I decided on the two brads.  I still think it would look "prettier" with ribbon!  ROFLOL!!  My DH was pleased, though.  I can promise you that the "girly" card I'll share with you tomorrow definitely has some ribbon!!!!

Because this is a pretty simple card, the stamping is pretty straight forward.  If you do have any questions about anything on this, please email me.

Have a wonderful Friday!!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Wanted, All Holidays, Sanded   Paper: Naturals Ivory, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip   Ink: Chocolate Chip (Classic and craft), Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand   Other: 1/2" circle punch, Crafter's Tool Kit, Vintage brads

Reaching For The Stars....

Happy Thursday!  We just got back from a little trip out of town.  All three of our sons see a specialist in a city about 5 1/2 hours away (for the same kidney issues).  Well, we had a GREAT visit!!  Our oldest son had surgery to correct his problem a couple of years ago, but our younger two were being watched for the same condition.  The great news is that they are both getting better!  Woohoo!  Actually, our middle son (he's almost 4) is completely normal now!  This is just so exciting for us...it seems like we've been to SO many of these appointments with SO many tests.  Anyway...that's our wonderful news!!  Also, while we were away, our oldest son celebrated his 9th birthday!  I just cannot tell you how amazing he is!  I just feel SO blessed to have such wonderful children!!!

After unpacking, starting laundry (does that job ever end???), and getting the kids back on track with school...I found some time to stamp!  Today's Ways To Use It Challenge is to use metallic cardstock.  Well, I love all things shiny and sparkly...so I just had to play!

I started with a 5 1/2 x 3 Basic Black card base.  I ran the metallic gold cardstock through the Cuttlebug using the Script embossing folder.  The stamping is actually very simple, but I really wanted the sentiment to be the focal point.  I just love all of the sentiments in the Starlight Starbright set by Verve Visual!  They are so unique and uplifting! 

Here is a close up of the sentiment...

I hope you all have a wonderful day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Starlight Starbright (Verve Visual)   Paper: Basic Black, Metallic gold c.s.   Ink: Versamark   Other: Gold e.p., Paper piercer, Gold edged black organdy ribbon, Script embossing folder, Cuttlebug

A Merry Little Nugget Box...

After checking out the Technique Challenge over at SCS this morning...I just knew I had to make time to play!!  I got my laundry done, chores finished, and school work corrected in record time!!!  LOL!!  The challenge is to make a clear slider for a nugget box!  What a great idea!!!  Well, I got to thinking about this...instead of stamping on it with my White Stazon pad...I wondered if I could emboss it with my crop-a-dile???!!!?  Guess what???  It works!!!!!!!  Woohooo!  Now, the acetate that I used is some heavier stuff that I recently received from Ellen Hutson's store.  I don't know if the thinner stuff will work with this or not...but maybe I'll try it later.

Sorry for the huge picture...I just couldn't get it to resize correctly in my editing program.

For a refresher on how to emboss using the Crop-a-Dile, check out THIS tutorial that Beate did on her Blog Fresh & Fun.

For all sorts of Nugget Box patterns, check out  THIS post on SCS.

Here is a close up of the box... so you can see the embossed dots better.

Here is a close up of the gift card.  The finished size is a 3 x 3 square.  Just a quick tip on poking brads through ribbon - I use just a little bit of adhesive to hold the ribbon together...and then use my paper piercer and foam pad to poke a hole in the folded ribbon.  This really reduces the "fraying" that you get when punching holes in the ribbon.

Have a great Monday!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: All Holidays, Snow Flurries   Paper: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Old Olive, Fall Flowers DP   Ink: Soft Sky, Old Olive   Other: Acetate, Rhinestones, Rhinestone brad, Circle punches, White taffeta ribbon

Fabulous Wintergreen Mum...

Happy Sunday!  I just love this time of year!  So much going on...but the energy and fun of it all keeps me from being completely exhausted!  LOL!!  All three of our sons have birthdays (two in November and one in December) so it is especially busy around here!  :-)  My oldest son's birthday is on Wednesday (he's going to be 9) but we will have his party on Saturday.  I try not to get all of the Christmas stuff out until after his party (you know...one thing at a time...LOL).  So, next Sunday we will go up into the mountains and cut our Christmas tree.  I have to admit, this year...I can hardly wait!!  So...with Christmas on my mind...I just had to make another Christmas card!  LOL!!

Today's Featured Stamper Challenge features TexasGrammy (her SCS username).  When I saw THIS card in her gallery, I knew right away that it was the one I wanted to case!!  I just LOVE this layout!!

It's been way too long since I've had this flower out...heheheee!  I embossed the flower with White e.p. on Certainly Celery c.s. three different times.  I cut out each one (in different places) and layered them on top of each other for a 3-Dimensional look.  I layered some Vellum c.s. over the Celery Snowflake patterned paper to soften it up a bit.  The rest is pretty self explanatory.  I just love this patterned paper...the colors are so wonderful together!

Well, I'm off to get a head start on tomorrow's laundry!  I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Fabulous Flowers, Party Punch   Paper: Whisper White, Vellum c.s., Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Wintergreen DP   Ink: Versamark, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke   Other: White e.p., 5/8" Celery grosgrain ribbon, Rhinestones

Time Spent With Friends...

I finally had some time to play with my Time Well Spent set!  This set (a level 3 Hostess set in the upcoming Spring/Summer catalog) has such a different feel than the hostess sets in the past.  This makes me very excited to see what the whole catalog looks like!  I'm so glad that Stampin' Up! chose to have two new catalogs a year verses the past one catalog per year.  It's about this time that I get "antsy" for new stamps and fresh ideas.  Just a few more weeks to wait!

I came across an amazing "find" the other day.  One of our local stores (mainly a drugstore but they also sold some gift/scrapbooking supplies) is closing out everything in their store except the pharmacy.  As I was browsing around, I spotted this HUGE box of K & Co. patterned paper!  Yes, I said 'box'!!  There is something like 200 sheets in there.  Woohoo!  Being the paper "junkie" that I am, I just had to have it (after all...it was on clearance)!!! 

I started with a Cool Caribbean 5 1/4" square card base (am I the only one that misses this color???) and layered some black, old olive, & K & Co patterned paper on it.  The scalloped rectangle was made with my rectangle Nestabilities (Debbie Olson is SUCH an enabler )!! 

I just had to get me some of these after seeing all the amazing stuff she has done with them!!

The main sentiment and flower are both stamped on Shimmery White c.s. and colored in with ink pads and a watercolor brush.  I added just a little bit of Stickles to the flowers.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Time Well Spent   Paper: Shimmery White c.s., Cool Caribbean, Old Olive, Basic Black, K & Co. Patterned paper   Ink: Palette Noir, Cool Caribbean, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive   Other: Black organdy ribbon, Black buttons, Rectangle Nestabilities, Stickles, Black Sakura glaze pen, Crafter's Tool Kit

Major Enabler Alert!!!

Happy day after Thanksgiving!!  I hope you all had a wonderful and fun-filled day!  We kept everything very low key...and you know what?  For once, I think I enjoyed every minute of it!  Usually I am running around, trying to make everything perfect...you know, to have wonderful memories????  LOL!!!!  This year, I cleaned - but didn't over do it....cooked and baked - but again,didn't over do it...and it was wonderful!!!

Anyway...I have to tell you guys about the AWESOME AWESOME sale that Julee is having over at Verve Visual!!!!  Get this...

10% off all Verve Visual stamp sets
10% off all acrylic blocks
15% off Ribbon, Embellishments, Inks and Adhesives
20% off all Bind-it-All Coils
25% off all designer paper
15% off all pearlized cardstock

AND...if that wasn't enough....check this out...

an additional 10% off all orders over $50!

Check out Verve Visual's store for all the details!!

I just have to add a note about the pearlized cardstock.  It is very similar to Stampin' Up!'s Shimmery White c.s....but even more shimmery!!!  AND...it comes in cream (Vanilla)!  I'm hooked!

I actually had time to stamp again!  Woohooo!  I will be back just a little later to share that with you!

Enjoy the rest of your day!  ~Laurie

We Have A Winner...

First, I want to let you all know how much I enjoyed reading your responses!  Yes, I did read them...ALL 523 of them!!  LOL!  I have a list of desserts that I want to try.  Not sure if I will do them all on Thanksgiving or not (heheheee), but I am going to try them!  Thanks so much for taking the time to share your favorite dessert, recipes, & even your funny skunk stories!!  We always have an American Apple Pie and a Swiss Apple Pie (it's quite a bit different than ours here in the U.S.).  I would LOVE to have a Pumpkin Pie, but my DH does not like them (not even a little bit...LOL) and I don't want to have a whole pie to have to devour and then later feel guilty about.  I'll let you know what we end up having!

On to the winner!!!!  Random.org chose post #76!

Congratulations Britiney!  Here's what she wrote:

"Congrats on hitting such a milestone!! I LOVE your blog, so it comes as no surprise to me. I can't wait for the next 200,000!!! I think as a favorite, I'd have to pick the old standby pumpkin pie. However, I've been tempted today to try THIS: http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/11/nutmeg-maple-cream-pie/
I'll let you know how it turns out!!

Thanks for sharing your amazing talent and inspiration with us. I look forward to your creations every day. "

Britiney, I will try to follow the link to your site and email you...but in case that doesn't work, please email me with your address!  There is a "email me" link just below my picture.

Thanks again, everyone for the sweet, sweet comments!!!  Have a great day!  ~Laurie

Jami's Dirty Girl Challenge...

I was just about to type "Good Morning" but quickly glanced at the clock and realized that there isn't much morning left!  Man, how time flies when you're chasing after a busy, busy two year old!!!  I will post the winner of the "Just Give Me The Goodies" after I finish this post.  

    Sorry to make you wait!

Jami (from SCS) has issued a Dirty Girl (past & present) Challenge.  The 'guidelines' of the challenge are as follows:

• Use A Winter Song (by Elzybells)
• Use the color Pretty in Pink
• DON'T use patterned paper (GASP!!!!)

So...here is what I came up with.

 

I got my Pretty in Pink paper out...but wow!..it sure looked pink today!  LOL!!  Right next to it in my file cabinet drawer was my Blush Blossom and it grabbed my attention immediately!  Because we were to use Pretty in pink on our cards, I stamped the snowflakes in pretty in pink onto the Blush Blossom c.s. (I did highlight the snowflakes with a white gel pen to soften them up a little).  I made the curvy corner by placing my large roll of mounting tap on the corner, tracing it with a pencil (on the back side of course) and cutting it out.  I embossed the little snowflakes on the main image layer with White e.p.  All the coloring was done with Prismacolor pencils and a colorless blender pencil.  For the sentiment, I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp each word (one at a time) along the curve.  Finally, I added some Frosted Lace Stickles to the center of the small snowflakes and added some more to the "snow".

Here is a list of all the Dirty Girls that are playing in this challenge:

11Valerie11
atomicbutterfly
BadSherry
Chantel
cookiestamper
cwilliams
debbiedesigns
Duckwaddlequack
flaxychick
genie1314
Jami
JanTInk
jbalcer
Jeanne S
JulieHRR
kittie747
Lauraly
leigh obrien
Linda D
LodiChick
mel mel
mytime
notimetostamp
rainy
rohla
StamperSharon
SweetMissDaisy
tashers
Tayloredexpressions
texasjdodylynn
waterchild12
WaterPixie
Zindorf

To see these gorgeous creations, check out the GALLERY for them at Splitcoast!

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure to check back in a little bit, to see who the winner of the Goodies is!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: A Winter Song, A Little Note, Falling Snowflake, Snowflake 2 (All Elzybells)   Paper: Whisper White, Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa   Ink: Palette Noir, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Versamark   Other: Prismacolor pencils, Frosted Lace Stickles, Rhinestones, Ribbon, Fibers, Sewing Machine, White e.p., White souffle pen

Life's Greatest Comforts...

Happy Monday!  Wow!  I have enjoyed reading your responses to your favorite Thanksgiving dessert!!  Some of you even left recipes and/or links to recipes...thank you!!!  I'm still sorting through them all to decide what "new" dessert we're going to add to our dinner this year!  Also..thank you so much for those that left the Skunk smell "neutralizer" recipe!!  LOL!  Unfortunately we DO need it!  They have sprayed all around our house almost daily!!  I have been burning every candle I own (which...if you know me...that is A LOT).  The worst part is that the spot they have sprayed the most is right in front of my stamp room window!!  UGH!!  My DH is calling the trapper to get some traps...so hopefully this will pass soon!

I just love the sentiments in Verve Visual's newest releases (Wonderful Wishes & Starlight Starbright)!  They can make any set seem "new" again!

I stamped the cupcake tier in River Rock onto Shimmery white c.s.  I created the rectangle layers by embossing and then cutting with my new rectangle Nestabilites.   I then added some cupcakes (from Short & Sweet)  that I had stamped, colored and cut out (I added the Stickles to the frosting after I had my card assembled).  I love this paper by Cosmo Cricket, but felt that it was too bold for my soft cupcakes so I added a layer of vellum c.s. over the top of  it and adhered it with some brads in the corners.  For the sentiment, I stamped the oval frame from Verve's Wonderful Wishes onto Shimmery white c.s. and then used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the sentiment "Wishing you life's greatest comforts" in the center of the oval.

I'll be back in the morning with something new.. AND the winner of the Blog Goodies!!  Have a great day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Wonderful Wishes (Verve Visual), Party Time (A Muse), Short & Sweet (Stampin' Up!)   Paper: Shimmery white c.s., Vellum c.s., River Rock, Dutch Girl Patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket)   Ink: River Rock, Rose Red, Sage Shadow marker, Rose Red marker, Black Stazon   Other: Frosted Lace Stickles, Rectangle Nestabilities, brads, Pearl, Ribbon (from Micheal's Dollar bin)

It's "Just Give Me the Goodies" Time!

Happy Sunday!!  It's so hard for me to believe, but my counter has passed the 200,000 mark!  Wow!!!  I think this definitely calls for some GOODIES to be given away!!!! 

It's been a crazy couple of weeks here in our household...but I'm so happy that it will be returning to "normal" very soon!  My DH has been in hunting camp for almost 3 weeks straight....but he's coming home TOMORROW!!!  I couldn't be happier!!!  Of course, while he was gone...every crazy thing imaginable has happened!!!  Remember the "SKUNK" thing I mentioned a couple of posts ago?  Well, my daughter was going to the garage to get something from one of our freezers, but instead slammed the door shut and let out a blood curdling scream!!!!  It turns out that a skunk had snuck into our garage while we went to get our mail (our mailbox is 6 miles away) and we didn't think we needed to close our garage for that short time.  The funny thing about that is that when we got back, I drove right back into the garage, got the kids out and went inside.  I'm SOOOOOO thankful we didn't get sprayed!!!  Well, I had no idea what to do!!  I ended up going around outside, opening the garage door a little (in hopes that he would sneak out again) and quickly ran back inside.  Thankfully, a couple of days later he did leave (but he made sure we had a HUGE mess to clean up when he was gone!!!!) and I was able to get my car out again.  He's been back almost everyday now...waiting by the garage door!  LOL!  He must have told his friends, because there are more under our porch now!  Oh, how I'm going to be happy to see my DH!!!  LOL!!!  So, needless to say my house does NOT smell very good right now!  Anyway...on to the GOODIES!!!!!!!!!!

Here's what's included:  A  paint can of gorgeous Primas, several yards of snowflake ribbon, a roll of Christmas ribbon (from Micheal's), a  Scallop circle punch, and a Accents & Elements tin (Borders & Blossoms)!!!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post!  If you'd like, please tell me your favorite dessert that you make for Thanksgiving!!  Please, only one post per person!  I will draw a name on Tuesday morning using Random.org.

Here is a closeup of the Borders & Blossoms tin!

Thank you SOOO much for visiting my site and your wonderful comments & emails!!  This has been just so much fun for me...and I'm grateful for the new friends I've met along the way!!!  THANK YOU!!!!!

I will be back in the morning with something new to show you (I actually stamped again)!!!  ~Laurie