Just Give Me Stamps...

Big Flower Thanks...

Happy New Year's Eve!!!  New Year's day is one of my favorite holidays.  There is just something so encouraging about a "fresh" new year!  I'm not a "New Year resolution" kind of girl...but I do love to reassess different aspects of my life.  I usually write down 3 things that is "working" and 3 things I'd like to improve on (I do this with different parts of my life...personal growth, me as a mother/wife & even stamping).  It's fun for me to look back over the years and see how I've grown/improved! 

Today's Technique Challenge over at Splitcoast, is to make a "Split Negative" card but using colors instead of black & white.  Even thought it is freeeeezing outside here, I wanted to use some soft "Spring-y" colors.

I stamped the Tres Chic background in Soft Sky on a piece of Soft Sky c.s. and then did the same thing on Almost Amethyst (using Almost Amethyst ink).  I put them both together and hand cut a diagonal wavy line, then glued the Soft Sky top and Amethyst bottom to another piece of Soft Sky c.s.  I thought the flowers needed some "stems" so I made some using ribbon.  Also...you can hardly tell this from the photo...but there is glitter in the center of the flowers.

Have a wonderful and safe afternoon and evening!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Big Flowers, Tres Chic, Fundamental Phrases   Paper: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Almost Amethyst   Ink: Soft Sky, Almost Amethyst   Other: Circle punches, Scallop circle punch, Word Window punch, Corner Rounder, Paper piercer, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Soft Sky dbl. stitched ribbon, Lavender Rhinestone brad

Blog Candy Winner!

I won't bore you all with a bunch of typing...hehehee...I'll get right to the winner!!!

I Random.org chose post number 141....and that is Chris!  Chris wrote:

I've been eyeing this set from Verve Visual... looks like a great one! Our favorite game is actually not a game at all... it's a puzzle!  We put one out on Thanksgiving Day and keep putting them out until the end of Christmas.  It makes for great fun with new puzzles every year and you wouldn't believe how a simple puzzle entices just about everyone that stops by!

Blessings to you in the New Year!

Chris

Chris, I'm going to email you so that you can give me your address!  I will get your goodies in the mail very soon!

Thanks so much everyone for all the wonderful game ideas!!  There are MANY new games added to our wishlist now!  :-)  Have a great afternoon!  ~Laurie

'Tweetheart'...

Happy Saturday!!  I'm a little late in posting today...it's just amazing how fast the time goes by!  We are all trying as hard as we can (LOL!!) to enjoy what's left of our Christmas school break! 

I wanted to share this card that I made with the new C.C. Designs stamps.  This set (Love Ya Much) along with the other new set (Love Ya Lots) will be available at All That Scraps on January 4th!

I will be back soon to post the winner of the free Verve stamps!!

~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Love Ya Much (C.C. Designs)   Paper: Papertrey white, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Vellum c.s., Lily Kate & Romani DP from Basic Grey   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Ballet Blue Stampin' Write marker   Other: Copic markers, Stickles, Spica glitter pens, Ticket corner punch, Corner rounder, Paper piercer, Bashful Blue grosgrain and gingham ribbons, Clear Dew Drops

I'm Normally Not A "Mouse" Person...

...but this cute mouse from the new Happy Heart Day is definitely an exception!  It was so much fun to finally stamp again!  My stamp room is not completely finished...but it is soooo much better!  You wouldn't even believe how small my space was.  My sweet DH moved my shelves out a little bit for me...which made room for another tall cabinet and filing cabinet.  It's not that I was just a messy stamper...in fact it's the opposite.  I like to put everything away when I'm done...but I just didn't have any room to put it.  Anyway...on to the card I made.

Today's Ways To Use It Challenge is to use Stazon ink.  Since I've gotten my Copic markers, I haven't done any watercoloring...so today was the perfect opportunity to dust off my watercolor brushes and use them!  I just used my Classic pads (the ink on the inside of the lid).

What's hard to see in the picture is the Crystal Effects I added to the heart and the Stickles I added to the butterfly wings.  Oh, and I stamped the butterfly onto watercolor paper, colored it, cut it out, & placed it on top of the plain black one that I stamped in the bottom right corner.

I've edited this post to add a closeup picture..to try and capture the shiny heart and sparkly butterfly.

  I have really enjoyed reading all of your responses the the Verve stamps give away!  There are definitely more games on my wish list now!  One that I keep reading from you is Apples to Apples...probably the next one we'll get.

I hope you all have a fantastic afternoon!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Happy Heart Day   Paper: Watercolor paper, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Rose Red Prints DP   Ink: Black Stazon, Various Classic pads for watercoloring   Other: 5/8" Certainly Celery grosgrain, Pink taffeta ribbon, Nestabilities, Stickles, Crystal Effects, Rhinestone

How About Some FREE Stamps?

I hope you all had a nice Christmas!  We had such a great day!  My mom was even able to come up to our house for a little while...it was so nice to have her here!  We played so many games...and laughed so hard...it was just wonderful! 

Just in case you all didn't get *enough* stamping stuff for Christmas (is there really such a thing as enough stampin stuff????), you now have another chance at some! 

The lucky winner will receive a newly released Starlight Starbright Remix set (notice it's now all clear stamps..woohooo!!), some gorgeous Aqua/Teal organdy ribbon with gold edges, some Heidi Swapp Star Ghost shapes, & some star brads! 

I want to thank Julee Tilman (owner of Verve Visual) for generously donating this stamps set!  If you would like a better look at the set click HERE.  Also, I just have to tell you that Verve is releasing 4 brand new sets on January 10th...and let me tell you they are AWESOME!!!  On January 1st, I will have a sneak peek for you (both here and at the Verve Visual blog)!

To be entered in the drawing for these fun goodies, just leave a comment on this post!  Please, only one comment per person.  If you want to (definitely not required), in your comment tell me your family's favorite game/s to play!  I will choose a winner (using Random.org) on Saturday (12/29) morning.

I am in the process of re-organizing my stamp area (not an easy task...heheheee) but I am really hoping that I will have some time to stamp this afternoon!  So, I hope to be back later to share some stamping with you!  ~Laurie

Merry Christmas!!!

I know, I've been pretty quiet lately.  It's just worked out that we've all been able to spend some wonderful time together as a family!   

We've been playing games, playing in the snow (we just got another 6 inches of FRESH snow this morning), and just plain 'ole' hanging out!  It's been wonderful!!  I figured that I'd better enjoy this while I can! 

I do want to wish all of you a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!  I pray that those of you that are traveling are safe and that you, too can enjoy being together with family! 

I have to tell you though, that I've been getting some waaaaay fun stampin' stuff in the mail lately!!  I cannot wait to play with it!  I will have some fun, new stuff to share after Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!!   ~Laurie

Party Penguin...

Good morning!  Today is the day that the Dirty Dozen/Dirty Dozen Alumni are posting their cards for the monthly challenge.  This month's challenge was to include penguins and anything with "ice" but NOT to use any blue.

I know...my paper looks kind of blue-ish in the photo...but I promise it's a greenish/teal in real life!  For the "ice" I made a little ice under the penguin using Frosted Lace Stickles.

Sorry for the short post...I need to head out the door (actually should have 10 minutes ago)!

Make sure  you check out the SCS gallery to see what everyone else came up with!!  Here is the link to the GALLERY.  Have a wonderful day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Memory Box Penguin, Everyday Flexible Phrases   Paper: Papertrey White, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, DP   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Chocolate Chip   Other: Copics, Word Window Punch, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Stickles, Fibers

A Good Thing...

I don't know what it is, but I've been so drawn to pink lately!  I think I've just had my "fill" of making Christmas cards!  LOL!  I do have just a couple more to make (ones that I will give close family members)...but I will try to stay away from pink when I make them!  LOL!

Today's Sketch Challenge really looked like an interesting one to me...and I was so hoping that I'd get a chance to "play".  My 4 year old son really wanted to make cupcakes so we can take to "Grammy" (my mom) because (this is a direct quote) "Cupcakes me every person feel better"!!  Is he a boy after my own heart or what!!!  LOL!!  So while the cupcakes were baking I snuck in a bit of stamping... :-)

I had only used my Time Well Spent set once...and was feeling a little bit guilty about it.  This heart really stood out to me, so I thought I would try and make it work for the sketch.  I colored the hearts with my Copic markers, cut them out, & mounted them on dimensionals.  The flowers are also cut out and "popped up" a little.

I stamped the sentiment on vellum c.s. and "outlined" the words and flowers using my Copic markers.

I punched a couple of circles of DP out, folded them in half, & used them on the ends of the sentiment.

Well, the Dirty Dozen (past and present) are doing another challenge!  So, I will be back in the morning to share my card for that with you.  Have a wonderful afternoon!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Time Well Spent   Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Sage Shadow, Bali Breeze DP, Vellum c.s.   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black   Other: Copic markers, Stickles, Rhinestones, Pink taffeta ribbon, Sewing Machine, 3/4" circle punch

Some Exciting News!

I'm so excited to now be a part of the All That Scraps Design Team!  It truly is a wonderful surprise...and I'm so grateful for the opportunity!  Here is a list of the talented ladies that are also being added to the team:

Crystal Spencer ---------- BLOG   Cyndi Bundy ------------- BLOG   Inge Groot ----------- BLOG   Jeanette Fincher --------- BLOG   Katie Stilwater -------- BLOG   Lesa Rapp ---------- BLOG   Linda Black --------- BLOG   Renée Van Stralen ------- BLOG   Shannan Teubner --------- BLOG   Sue Berker ------------- BLOG   Tricia Traxler --------- BLOG

There are some fun new C.C. Designs stamps on their way, and I can't wait to "play"!   Thanks for sharing in my excitement with me!   ~Laurie

A Little Pink Birdie...

Happy Monday!  Can you believe that it's just a little over a week until Christmas??  I still haven't gotten all of my shopping done, yet!  Yikes!! 

My mom is finally home from the hospital!  Yay!!  Thank you SO much for all of your emails and well-wishes!  She's getting a little stronger every day!  I'm looking forward to things slowing down a little...

I actually got to stamp today!  Yay!  Today's Technique challenge is to emboss a whole area on our card with Iridescent Ice e.p.  Use some sparkly embossing powder???  I'm SO in that challenge!  Hehehee!  This card is actually being sent to a friend that is going to celebrate her birthday towards the end of the month.

I used the Flowers For You DP (some of her favorite paper) to create the background and paper piece the birdie.  I used my Nestabilites to create the circles.  I cut the flower out, colored it with Copic markers and popped it up for a little extra dimension.  Of COURSE I had to add some rhinestones!  LOL!

Have a wonderful afternoon!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: A Little Birdie (from the upcoming Spring/Summer Stampin' Up! catalog), Hugs & Wishes   Paper: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Flowers For You DP   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Versamark   Other: Iridescent Ice e.p., Black & White organdy ribbon, Rhinestones, Nestabilities