Just Give Me Stamps...

Back to "Basics"...

Happy Saturday!  AND...happy March!!  You all are probably tired of hearing me say this...but can you believe it's already MARCH???!!  Wasn't it just Christmas?  LOL!

Today is the release date for three brand new Verve Visual sets! 

Julee (owner of Verve), challenged the Design Team to make a "Back to Basics" card.  In a nutshell, it's a card that is an "un-complicated, easy to reproduce card that uses techniques/ideas that we loved when we first started to stamp".  Something that I was immediately drawn to when I first started stamping, was monochromatic cards.  Not only are they very visually appealing to me, but they are great for someone who doesn't have ALL of the stamping pads and papers known to man yet!  LOL!

This card is stamped with the new Thankful Blossoms set.  I chose Real Red as my "color" and white as my "neutral".  For those of you that are new to the term monochromatic...it just means "to have or to appear to have only one color".  I've always know what it means...generally..but thought I'd look it up for the correct wording.  I have to tell you that I just LOVE that they included "or appear to have"!!!  LOL!!!  Now THAT would be a challenge...make a many colored card that "appeared" to have only one!  LOL!    I used embellishments that I had on hand when I was first starting out...ribbon, buttons, & thread (what most people would have in a sewing box).  The piercing is something that I have just recently picked up (like in the last year or two) but again, you could use a needle, which most people already have as well.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamp: Thankful Blossoms (Verve Visual)   Paper: Whisper White, Real Red   Ink:  Real Red   Accessories:  Red gingham ribbon, Real Red buttons, Thread, Paper piercer

A Pomegranate Sketch...

Happy Friday!!!  I hope you all are having a great week!  I had so much fun with this week's sketch for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge!

 

When I first started to put this card together, I was going to use Purely Pomegranate, White, & Basic Black.  The black just felt too "dramatic" and even a bit harsh for this flower card.  I was digging around in my file cabinet to see which color would look good instead of the black when I saw Basic Gray.  I have no idea why I don't use this color more...I really like it!

The main flower is colored with Copic markers, and all of the little flowers have Pale Pink rhinestones (by Hero Arts) in the centers of them.

My card is really pretty simple...but I'm pleased with the way it turned out.  I think the reason I like it so much is that the Basic Gray really gives it the look I was hoping to achieve!

Make sure you check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have created for this sketch!

Have a wonderful Friday...and weekend!!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: One of a Kind, Stitched background stamp   Paper: Whisper White, Stamper's Select, Purely Pomegranate, Basic Gray   Ink: White craft, Basic Gray, Purely Pomegranate   Other:   Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware, Dbl stitched Pomegranate ribbon, Nestabilities, Build a Brad, Rhinestones, Corner Rounder punch, Copic markers

You Know You're Old When...

Happy Thursday!!  This post is definitely later than I planned on!  Calving this year is certainly more difficult than usual!  I'm actually only doing errands and other odd jobs for my DH...and he's doing all of the hard work!  I do try to make sure he has lots of snacks and "goodies" to much on...as he has been pulling some all nighters lately.  Although I DO feel sorry for him....it does kind of remind me of what I did when our children were babies!  LOL!

  Anyway...on to my card!  :-)  My Sister-in-law's birthday is coming up pretty soon.  She is such a fun person with a great sense of humor...so I felt like she would really get a kick out of these hilarious "You Know You're Old When..." stamps by Gina K!   I stamped the image with Adirondack Pitch Black onto Stamper's Select cardstock and colored it with Copic markers.  I added some Diamond Stickles to the car...because...well, I just thought it needed to be "spruced" up a little!  :-)  (The stamp set and the Stickles can all be found at Stamper's Dream store.)

I wanted to keep the colors "vintage" looking.  I thought this particular print of patterned paper (from Cosmo Cricket's Hey Sugar line) could look a bit like old fashioned wallpaper!  LOL!

I added some embellishments, sponging, sewing, and some ribbon (to keep the card closed).

Here is a picture of the inside of the card.  I lined the inside flap with some sponged Sage Shadow and then used my Marvy Oval punches for the sentiment on the right.

I don't know what is going on...but I cannot seem to get a decent picture of my projects lately!!!  Ugh!  I don't know if it's the colors I'm using...or the lighting (but I haven't changed that)...or what, but I certainly hope this "poor picture" streak won't last!

I'll be back tomorrow with a card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge!  I hope you all enjoy your evening!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: You Know You're Old When (Gina K)   Paper: Stamper's Select, Sage Shadow, Marigold Morning, Hey Sugar patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket)   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black   Accessories: Copic markers, Prima Flowers, Build-a-brad, Diamond Stickles, Nestabilities, Oval punches, Sewing machine, Organdy ribbon

Easter Elegance...

Good morning!  I'm so excited to share today's post with you!!  Today is the first day of the "Sneak Peek Blitz" over at the Verve Visual blog!  Just WAIT until you see these sets!!!!  Oh man!!  Today, Easter Elegance is being showcased.  There are three samples posted with this set!  Tomorrow and Friday will showcase another new set (YES!  that's a total of three new sets) that will be released on March 1st.

There isn't an image in the Easter Elegance set that I don't absolutely LOVE!  The only problem I had was choosing which one to use first!  LOL!  I chose the Easter eggs first, because I really wanted to try this idea I had.  When I first saw these eggs, I thought that they are so pretty...and that they should be displayed in a basket!  :-)  I didn't have a basket stamp...so I made my own!  LOL!

I started by "weaving" 3/8" pieces of white cardstock strips.  After I had a a large enough area woven, I glued on a piece of white cardstock (one that I had precut to 2" x 3" and rounded the bottom corners on) onto the weaved strips.  Once the glue was dry (I used Tombow Multi Adhesive) I trimmed off the longer woven strips around the edges of the basket shaped cardstock.  The glue also helped to kept the woven strips in place.  For the "finishing touch" I sponged the edges of the basket just a little to add some depth and create a bit of a shadow.

After my basket was made, I glued some of that crimped paper (that comes in a large bag) that is used to stuff baskets with to the backside of my basket.  Then I "filled" it up with these gorgeous Easter eggs!!

Also...I just wanted you to know...that I am super behind on my emails!!  I will answer them, I promise!  :-)  Along with helping my daughter (who is now recovering very well) calving is in full swing here on the ranch...and every spare moment I have I am helping my DH. 

I hope you all have an amazing day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps:  Easter Elegance (Verve Visual), Polka Dots (Stampin' Up!)   Paper: Soft Sky, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)   Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Soft Sky, Almost Amethyst, Blush Blossom, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up!)   Accessories:   White e.p., White taffeta ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Buttons (Basic Grey Two Scoops Collection)

This Hug's For You...

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a good weekend!  Well, not only did I get that nap I was hoping for...I got 2  more as well!!  LOL!  Every time I put my little ones down for a nap, I took one too!  I think I am now completely caught up on all that sleep I missed out on the last several weeks.  Woohooo!  It's just amazing what getting some sleep can do for the energy level!!  Heheee!  Not only did I get all my chores done this morning, lunch and dinner made, helped my DH, & baked some goodies...but I found some time to stamp!  Yay!

 

The technique Challenge today was to combine two or more different patterned papers together.  I LOVE to do this...so I couldn't resist playing along!

I stamped this adorable monkey (from the CC Designs set Monkey Love available from All That Scraps) onto watercolor paper using Palette Burnt Umber ink.  I then colored him in using Prismacolor Pencils and blending it with Baby Oil.

After using my Circle Nestabilities to cut/emboss the circles, I sponged all of the edges with Antique Linen Distress ink.  I punched out a 1/2" circle of the patterned paper (the same pattern as I used for the bottom layer) and put that in a Brass Build-A-Brad.  The Brown textured ribbon is some I got from Jody (TexasJodyLynn) during one of her ribbon shares.  The peach-ish ribbon with brown edges is from Martha Stewart's line.

This card will be going to a good friend of mine...who just LOVES monkeys!!!!  I can't wait for her to get it!!!

It's been so long since I've participated in a Color Challenge...but I'm planning on it tomorrow!  Woohoo!  I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamp:  Monkey Love (CC Designs)   Paper: K & Co Patterned paper, Watercolor paper, Close to Cocoa   Ink: Palette Burnt Umber   Other: Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil, Brass Build-A-Brad, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Corner Rounder punch, Paper piercer

Embrace Life...

Happy Friday!  I am so glad to see the weekend!  This past week has been especially busy for us...as I'm still trying to catch up from being gone.  We don't have any particular plans this weekend...but I am hoping to get a nap in somewhere...hehehee!

 

I made this card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #36.  What a FUN sketch!!!! 

I decided to pull out my Embrace Life set (it's been way to long since I've used it!) because I thought the smaller panel would be perfect to showcase the flowers in this set.  I stamped this using the Faux Linen technique (click on the link to see Beate's tutorial).  I wanted more color on the flowers...so I embossed them on Shimmery White c.s., watercolored them using a watercolor brush and Classic ink pads, cut them out, & mounted them onto the River Rock colored stem.

After the flowers were glued on, I added some Crystal Effects.  I love how it adds so much depth to the colors!

  Here is a closeup of the flowers....

The rest of the card is pretty simple...just a little distressing and sponging.  :-)  To see more samples with this sketch, check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have made!

I hope you all have a wonderful day and a relaxing weekend!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Embrace Life   Paper: Glossy c.s., Shimmery White, River Rock, Ruby Red, River Rock Designer Prints DP   Ink: Versamark, River Rock, Ruby Red, Groovy Guava, Sahara Sand   Other: Crystal Effects, Dew Drops, Fibers, Clear e.p.

Beaded Flowers...

Happy Wednesday!!  It's the 20th of February (can you believe that???)...and that means it's time for another Dirty Girl Challenge!  Woohoo!  This month's challenge was to use a stamp designed by a Dirty Dozen/Alumni....with what we perceive to be Springy colors...without using any Die cut/Embossing machine.

I chose to use this Blossoms stamp...which was designed by Anna Wight (SweetMissDaisy), matted on a background stamped with the Pretty Pattern Backgrounder...which was designed by Lisa Strahl (Mona Lisa).  The colors I chose are Certainly Celery and Real Red (with lots of white).  Red is a color that I associate with Spring...it is so happy and bright...I LOVE it!!  :-)  Even though I desperately wanted to...I did not use my Nestabilities!  Heehee!

I stamped the Blossoms onto Papertrey White using Adirondack Pitch Black ink.  I then colored them in a little using my Copic markers.  Because I am SO NOT as good a watercolorer as Anna (waaaay outta my league :-) I thought I would add some Red Microbeads to my flowers as highlights.  To do that...I applied some Diamond Glaze (very similar to Crystal Effects..but not as "cloudy") just to the area I wanted to "highlight" and then sprinkled on my Real Red Microbeads.  If you want to try this...make sure you are pouring these Microbeads over a Powder Pals tray (what I use) or at least a large pre folded paper so that you can pour the unused beads back into their container.  Last...I added the details:  folded down corner, sentiment (which I punched out with the Sm. Oval punch), Dew drops, some roughed up edges, & a bit of stitching.

Here is a closeup of the flowers....so you can see the beads better.  I'm going to have to try this more often!!  It definitely distracts the eye away from the mediocre coloring AND adds some dimension!!  Woohoo!  :-)

To see what all of the other Dirty Girls came up with, check out this Splitcoast Gallery!  I hope you all have a great day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Blossoms (Whipper Snapper), Pretty Pattern Backgrounder (CHF), All Holidays   Paper: Whisper White, Papertrey White, Certainly Celery, Real Red   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Certainly Celery, Real Red   Other: Sm. Oval punch, Sewing Machine, Copic Markers, Diamond Glaze, Real Red Microbeads, Thread, Dew Drops

So Thoughtful...

Happy Tuesday!!  I actually made this card yesterday...but I couldn't get a decent picture.  These colors really needed to be seen in natural light...so I waited until this morning to take a picture.

I know, I know...I use this layout a LOT....but I can't help myself!  I love it!!  LOL!  I started with some Tres Jolie patterned paper by My Mind's Eye and lightly sponged the edges with Antique Linen Distress ink.  I then used my Oval Nestabilities to create the nested ovals (shocker, huh? LOL!!).  Now for the butterflies...oh, man....I LOVE these butterflies!!!  The only problem I had...was choosing which butterflies to use!!  LOL!  These butterflies are from the Designer Butterflies set from Hero Arts.  After settling on these two...I embossed them onto Vellum c.s. with Malachite embossing powder (by Judikins) and cut them out.  I embossed the "so thoughtful" sentiment (from So Many Messages set also from Hero Arts) onto the top vellum oval.  For the finishing touches, I stitched around the card base, added an Vanilla taffeta bow, & some clear Dew Drops.

This picture just doesn't do this gorgeous embossing powder justice...so I took a closeup photo as well.

  One thing about the Judikins embossing powders....the bottles are MUCH bigger than I expected!  LOL!  I remember reading that the bottle was 2 oz...but for some reason it just didn't register to me how much that was!  LOL!  After using this particular embossing powder...I thought it would be fun to try the "faux metal" technique with this!!!  Maybe later this week, I'll give it a try!  :-)

The Designer Butterflies set, So Many Messages set, and the Judikins embossing powder are all from Stamper's Dream store.

I checked out the Color Challenge earlier (Pumpkin Pie, Orchid Opulence, & Certainly Celery) and will definitely have to put my thinking cap on for that one!  If I get any bright ideas...I'll have a card to share later!  LOL! 

I hope you all have a great day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Designer Butterflies, So Many Messages (Hero Arts)   Paper: Vellum c.s., Naturals Ivory (for card base), Tres Jolie patterned paper by My Mind's Eye   Ink: Versamark, Antique Linen Distress Ink   Other: Vanilla e.p., Malachite e.p., Oval Nestabilities, Sewing machine, Vanilla taffeta ribbon, Dew Drops

Just Give Me Goodies Winners!!!

Happy Monday!!  We're finally home!  Yay!!  I really want to thank you all for the super sweet emails!!  It was a loooong trip..and we are so glad to be home!  Ali is healing nicely...and is starting to actually believe us when we tell her that it WILL get better...LOL!  We were both absolutely exhausted, though.  We spent most of yesterday sleeping!  I will have something new to show you later today (I can't wait to stamp again!!) but first I need to finish up the laundry and put dinner in the crock pot.  I have to say, that I have a wonderful DH!  He had all of the laundry done when we got home...as well as the house cleaned!!  So...finishing up the laundry will be a snap!  Woohoo! 

Soooo....do you want to know who the "Just Give Me the Goodies" winners are?  According to Random.org...the winner of the first bundle is:  terri s.  Terri wrote:  is our first winner (Event Full stamp set, pink ribbons, mini brads, heart ghost shapes)...and she wrote:  "I love your blog. You have amazing talent-thank you for sharing your creations with us. And, so generous too!! Wow, awesome blog candy. Thanks!
Hope you had a great week!"
Terri, I will email you shortly!

The second winner ($25 gift certificate to Stamper's Dream Store, Flower ghost shapes, fibers, primas, rain dots) is Susan Liles!  Susan wrote:  "oohh!! laurie, i want to play!!  i love your blog and am an avid subscriber!!!  sus".     Susan, I will be emailing you shortly!

Congratulations to both of you!!

Enjoy your day!  ~Laurie

Weekend Sketch Challenge

Happy Friday!  You know what Friday means....time for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge!!  Woohoo!

My card this weekend is just a simple one...and pretty straight forward.  I wanted to use some of my "hoarded" Designer Paper...so that was the inspiration for this whole card.  (It also will come in handy...and I have a lot of birthday cards to send out next month!)  :-)

To see more samples with this sketch, make sure you check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have come up with!

Well...if all goes well, I will be heading home soon!  Yay!

Have a wonderful weekend!  ~Laurie