Just Give Me Stamps...

How About Some Free Stamps!!

Free stamps...it doesn't get much better than that, right?  :-)  More about that in a minute.  First, I wanted to share with you a quick little Mini card Gift set that I made! 

I made two each of the three different 4 x 4 notecards.  I wanted them simple enough in design to be easily mass produced.

I then created a little box to hold both the cards and envelopes.

To make the box, I just modified the "2-5-7-10 box".  (Click on the link for detailed instructions...and my measurements are listed next).  I wanted the box to fit my 4 x 4 notecards.  I started with a 6" x 12" piece of double sided patterned paper (all patterned paper is from K & Co).  I scored at the following intervals:  1 1/2", 5 3/4", 7 1/4", & 11 1/4".  I then turned my c.s. vertically and scored at 1 1/2".  The rest of the box is assembled the same way as the instructions on SCS (again...click on the link above).

I used a different verse (all are from the Light of the World set from Our Daily Bread Designs) on each of the cards below.

For the mini notecards, I used a 4" square textured Very Vanilla c.s. base.  On the blue cards, I added a couple of Dew Drops.

I added ribbon and some piercings to the Rose colored cards.

On the Moss green cards, I added some Vanilla taffeta ribbon (it looks white in the picture...but it is Ivory), a rounded corner, and a small rhinestone.

All of the cards have some subtle shading around all the edges.  **Note - I've received a lot of emails asking how I sponge my cards.  I will share some tips with you in the next couple of days!

Now...on to the FREE STAMPS!!!  :-)  Kelley (owner of Our Daily Bread Designs) has graciously donated one Light of the World stamp set for me to give away!!  Wooohoo!

There are five stamps included in this set.  To be entered into this drawing, just leave a comment on this post! 

**Optional:  you can also tell me, in your comment, what you do to get out of stamping "ruts".  I'm sure we all have experienced this (I know I have...OFTEN) and I would love to read your ideas!!

I will pick the winner (using Random.org) on Wednesday morning!  Please...only one comment per person.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!!  I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Light of the World (Our Daily Bread Designs)   Paper: Very Vanilla textured c.s., K & Co. patterned paper   Ink: Buckaroo Blue, Blush Blossom & Rose Red (I mixed them to achieve the right color), Mellow Moss, Versamark, Antique Linen Distress Ink   Other: Clear e.p., Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Vanilla taffeta ribbon, Ivory narrow grosgrain ribbon, Dew Drops, Rhinestone, Paper piercer, Corner Rounder punch

Beate's Weekend Sketch #41...

Happy Friday!!  :-)  Thanks for all the wonderful comments wishing my daughter a happy birthday!  She had a wonderful day!  We're heading out of town (just us "girls"...DH is on "boy duty" heheheee) to go see a Rebecca St. James concert.  After the concert...shopping!!  :-)

   

It's Friday....which means it's Beate's Sketch Challenge Day!!!  (That should be some sort of official stamping holiday I think :-)  I used some brand new sets (I just got them a couple days ago) I received from Inque Boutique.  I love, love these stamps!!  (I'm not affiliated...just a very, very happy customer!!)!  They are unmounted rubber...and come in these wonderful clear storage containers and include a stamping mat.  The coolest thing is...that the image is printed on the other side of the unmounted rubber...so when you put it on an acrylic block you can see exactly where you are stamping (kind of like a clear stamp)!! 

I stamped the the bird and flowers (from the Birdie set) onto watercolor paper using Palette Burnt Umber ink and used my Classic pads to watercolor it in.  After I had finished stamping the different layers...I stamped the Sanded background over each of them to "age" it a bit.

Make sure you check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Mary Jo, Lori, & Sharon have made...they are sure to WOW you!!  :-)

I hope you all have a wonderful Friday!!  Make sure to check back tomorrow for a fun give away!!  :-)   ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Birdies (Inque Boutique), Sanded   Paper: Watercolor paper, Creamy Caramel, Purely Pomegranate, Chocolate Chip   Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, Various Classic Pads for watercoloring, Sahara Sand, Creamy Caramel   Other: Pomegranate satin ribbon, Decorative brads

She's Amazing...

Happy Thursday!!  This will be a quick post, because I am headed out the door soon.  Today is my daughter's twelfth birthday!  I can hardly believe it!!!  Am I really old enough to have a twelve year old???  LOL!!

I chose some of her favorite paper and colors (definitely a girl after my own heart!!).  The challenge today was to "Spray it On" (what we spray on was completely up to us).  I have had some Glimmer Mist for two months now (I'm blushing as I type this)...and this is the first time I've actually used it!  LOL!  I sprayed each layer with Snowflake Glimmer Mist.  I LOVE the subtle sparkle it gives (see the closeup photo).

I had to take this closeup picture at a strange angle because it's the only way I could capture the sparkle (I even sprayed some on the ribbon :-).

I hope you all have a great day!!  ~Laurie  P.S.  Be on the lookout for some Blog Candy!!

Recipe   Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment, Amazing to Zany   Paper: Soft Sky, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Fall Flowers DP   Ink: Chocolate Chip (Craft and Classic), Old Olive   Other: Clear e.p., Rhinestone brads, Felt Flowers, Sewing Machine, 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, 3/4" circle punch

Bloomin' Beautiful...

Happy Wednesday!  One of the sets that really stood out to me in the Spring Occasions catalog, was Bloomin' Beautiful.  Every time I'd flip through the catalog...I would always stop on that page.  I kept telling myself that it doesn't matter how pretty it is...I don't need another floral stamp set.  As you can see...I held out longer than I usually do!  LOL!  It's not all my fault though...after seeing all of the gorgeous cards that Christine Okken (aka ChristineCreations) has made with this set I knew I wouldn't be resisting too much longer!  :-)

I don't know if the timing for this week's Sketch Challenge could have been any more perfect!  The sketch specifically has a 1 1/2" strip on top...perfect for this flower that just happened to have arrived at my house last week!  Woohoo!

I stamped the flower onto watercolor paper using Palette Burnt Umber ink.  Both the flowers and leaves are cut out and popped up a little for some added dimension (see picture below).  I added some Diamond Stickles to parts of the flower (gotta get some sparkle in there somewhere...hehehee!).

For the background, I stamped the En Francais background stamp (inked in Close to Cocoa) onto some Ginger Blossom DP.  I layered another coordinating piece of DP (from the Ginger Blossoms collection) on top and instead of using cardstock for the horizontal panel...I used some ribbon.  Normally, I LOVE lots and lots of layers...but I really liked the look of the ribbon instead of more cardstock.  I intentionally did not stamp a sentiment on the front of this card as I like to have several "all purpose" cards ready for me to stamp on the inside as I need them.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!  We're expecting MORE snow today...can you believe it!!!  I'm hearing about...and seeing pictures on all your blogs...of the beautiful Spring  you all are experiencing....and here we are talking about going sledding again.  Sigh...   

Recipe   Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful, En Francais   Paper: Watercolor paper, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Ginger Blossom DP   Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, Close to Cocoa, Antique Linen Distress Ink, Various Classic pads for watercoloring   Other: Diamond Stickles, Dew Drops, 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon

Technique Monday...

Happy Monday!  When I saw the fun Flap-Fold tutorial...written by none other than Rose Ann (A.K.A. CuttersCallous)...I knew I had to play along!  After finishing my first one...I have plans for two more!  I love this technique!!

I had some scraps of this patterned paper (Cowgirl collection by Crate Paper) left over and thought it would be perfect for this fun card!  I pulled out my Anniversary Birds set from Verve Visual and went to work!

I stamped the bird onto Soft Sky c.s. and paper pieced it onto my card.  The flowers are all cut out from the patterned paper (I didn't have any Primas to match...then realized that the paper was FULL of flowers)!!  :-)

I created all of the scallop borders with my Corner Rounder punch.  I decided to back my whole card with a piece of Soft Sky c.s....because I really wanted to draw that soft blue color out in my card.

My double stitched Soft Sky ribbon didn't really seem to work with this card...and I didn't have any other ribbon the right color...so I dyed my own by using a Copic marker and coloring some White taffeta ribbon.  It worked perfectly!  :-)

Here's a picture of the inside...   Often times I don't do much to the inside of a card...but I really like how this turned out!

Thanks for stopping by!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Anniversary Birds (Verve Visual)   Paper: Cowgirl patterned paper (Crate Paper), Soft Sky   Ink: Adirondack Espresso   Other: White and Kraft taffeta ribbons, Copic Marker (Frost Blue), Sewing Machine, Rhinestones, Corner Rounder punch, Magnetic closure (Basic Grey)

My Cupcake "Sprinkler" Card...

...at least that's what my 4 year old son calls it!  :-)  When I finished this card and was getting ready to take a picture of it...Bryan came up and said "Oh mom, I love your cupcake sprinkler card"!  It made me grin from ear to ear!!

Michelle, owner of Stamper's Dream, made a big announcement on her blog yesterday!  She has moved her store to her own domain!  All of her hard work sure has paid off...the store looks fantastic!!!  The new address is www.stampersdream.com (very easy to remember).  If you get a chance...take a peek!  It's full of lots of fun stuff...and she's always adding new items!

I haven't made a shaker card in years...and I had fun making this one!  They are so easy...I don't know why I don't make them more often.  The sentiment and cupcake are from the Hero Arts Cupcakes set.  Of course...I had to add some Stickles to the frosting (I'm sure you'd expect nothing less from me..right?  :-)  For the "sprinkles" I added clear Microbeads (they look kind of gray in the picture...but in real life they are clear and have just a hint of sparkle to them).

Here is a picture of my sweet 4 year old son!  He loves to go with his Daddy and "help" out on the ranch!  He gets his "work" coat, hat, & boots on (just like Daddy)...and plays on the hay wagon while my DH prepares the milk for the calves.

I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Cupcakes (Hero Arts)   Paper: Very Vanilla, Blush Blossom, Patterned paper by My Mind's Eye   Ink:  Blush Blossom craft ink, Palette Burnt Umber, Classic pads for watercoloring   Other:   Clear detail embossing powder, Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Vanilla brad, Circle Nestabilities, Microbeads, Stickles, Clear acetate, Corner Rounder punch

Thanks...

Happy Friday!!  It's hard to believe this week is already gone!  We're all starting to feel better...so we're just now ready to get our week started...LOL!  I also can't hardly believe Easter is in two days!  I guess I better get busy preparing!  We will just be at home...but this year will be special in that my mom is moving away in a month and for her to be able to spend Easter with us will be wonderful!

I made this card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge # 40.  My whole card was inspired by this new patterned paper from Memory Box's Inspire collection.  I LOVE these colors!  Mmmmm, mmmm!  I have no idea what I will do when Soft Sky retires at the end of this catalog year...it truly is my favorite color!  I used Memory Box's Of a Feather set...and stamped directly on to the patterned paper.  I popped up a couple of birds that I colored and cut out...then embellished with some mini Primas and rhinestones.  Both the Memory Box paper and stamps are available at Stamper's Dream.

Make sure you check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have done with this sketch...I'm sure they're amazing!

I'll be back tomorrow to share another project that I've been working on!  Have a wonderful Friday!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Of a Feather (Memory Box)   Paper: Inspire patterned paper (Memory Box), Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Soft Sky, Shimmery White   Ink: Soft Sky, Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip   Other: Circle punches, Scallop circle punch, Scallop scissors, Paper piercer, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Mini Primas, Rhinestones

Blushing Vintage Blooms...

Happy Thursday!  Thanks for all the sweet notes...I am starting to feel much better now!  AND...I've got a new camera!  Woohoo!!  I didn't have too much time to do the kind of research and comparing that I normally do when I make a large purchase (I normally take weeks to finally decide what I'm going to buy), but I'm very happy with my choice!  I ended up getting a Canon Rebel XTi.  I am in no way a "photographer"...but I'm excited about the possibility of learning!  :-)  It will probably take me quite a while to figure out how to take good pictures of my cards again...but I will have fun learning!  :-)

Each month (on the 20th) there is a challenge that Jami issues to all the current and Alumni Dirty Girls.  This month, we were to use stamps/embellishments that are an "old favorites"...ones that we haven't used for a while.  The restricted element is that we aren't supposed to use anything that we've had for less than six months.   

I chose Abundant Joy as my main stamp set.  Even though this set has retired...it is one that I will never part with!  I just love it!  For my colors, I used Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, & Buckaroo Blue (all colors that I haven't used for a while but used to be favorites).

As a bonus challenge, we were to  use a technique that we used to love, but haven't used for a while.  Something that I used to love to do, is create "mini cards" within a card.  Here, each of the flowers opens up to reveal an image and a message (see picture below).

I stamped each of these flowers onto watercolor paper with Palette Burnt Umber ink and used my Classic ink pads and a watercolor brush to color them in.  You can't see this in the photo, but I stamped En Francais (I replaced my beloved French Script with this after the Fall/Winter catalog came out eight months ago) over each flower with the coordinating color (the top is in Buckaroo Blue, the middle in Blush Blossom, & the bottom in Mellow Moss).  I then stamped them all with the Sanded background (also purchased as soon as it was available eight months ago) using Sahara Sand ink.

I used the slit punch (and decorated the top of the tabs with an Ivory organdy bow with a little pearl in the middle) to hold each of these little cards closed.

To see all the cards the other Dirty Girls came up with, click on this Gallery Link.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!  I hope you all enjoy your day!!!  (It's snowing here...again...but maybe we'll get to go sledding after school).  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Abundant Joy, En Francais, Sanded, Fancy Flexible Phrases   Paper: Watercolor paper, Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, Buckaroo Blue   Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, Sahara Sand, Buckaroo Blue, Mellow Moss, Blush Blossom, Various Classic pads for watercoloring   Other: Slit punch, Ivory organdy ribbon, Pearls, Sewing Machine, Sakura Stardust pen

Light of the World...

Happy Monday!  I almost didn't add the exclamation point to that last sentence...but figured it might be a bit sarcastic sounding if I didn't.  For me...the happiest part of today is that it is almost over!  LOL!!  I started getting sick Friday night...and now it is a full blown Bronchial yuckness.  My DH has been wonderful though...taking care of the munchkins while I rest in bed.  I couldn't stand not doing anything anymore so I got up, cleaned up a bit...and headed to my stamp room for a little "stamping therapy"!   Something else I wanted to mention quickly...I *loved* reading your stories about your own experiences with an escape-artist child!  :-)  As quiet and "stealth" like as he is...he is not very stubborn and is responding well to my DH's and my correction.  Because of his "need" to go, go, go...a little time out and he is more than ready to comply to the rules!!  LOL!!  I SO wish our other children were like that!  LOL!

Isn't this lighthouse just gorgeous!!??!!!!  There is a brand new stamp company called Our Daily Bread Designs...and they are celebrating their Grand Opening today!!  What really impressed me about this company (aside from the stunning artwork) is that a portion of all the proceeds will be donated to various Hunger Centers!  Stamping and helping others...it doesn't get much better than that!!  :-)  You can read more about Our Daily Bread Designs at Kelley's blog (she's the owner) - The Stamping Studio.

For my card, I started by stamping the lighthouse image onto watercolor paper with Palette Burnt Umber ink and then using my Classic pads and a watercolor brush to color the image in.  I then used my circle Nestabilities to cut out a circle frame from some My Mind's Eye patterned paper.  I added some ribbon, a Prima flower, & a decorative brad for some embellishing.

Here's a peek at the inside.  I used the circles that were left over from the front to highlight this verse.  I also wanted to tie in the yellow from the front of the card inside...so I added the same color of Prima but just smaller in size.

I'm not sure exactly when I'll be posting again as my camera has totally died.  I am so grateful for my friend that has lent me her camera this past weekend (to finish taking pictures for the DD gallery (that opened on the 15th).  Alas...I must return it to her!  :-)  I DO have a new coming soon!  Woohoo!  It's "supposed" to be delivered tomorrow...but living way out in the sticks has taught me NOT to get my hopes up for deliveries being on time.  Hopefully it will be here more toward the middle rather than the end of this week. :-)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Light of the World (Our Daily Bread Designs)   Paper: Watercolor, Chocolate Chip, My Mind's Eye Patterned paper  Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, Various Classic pads for watercoloring   Other: Circle Nestabilities, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Prima flowers, Decorative brad, Small brad

Hugs...

   Happy Friday!!  I know I've been very quiet lately...I'm just trying to finish up all of the projects that I've been working on.  That...and my two year old is...well, acting two!  LOL!  He is becoming quite the "Outdoorsman"!  Just when I think he is actually napping...I see him running around outside!  He knows how to open the window, pop the screen out, & crawl outside!!!  So..naptime is spent checking on him every few minutes!  :-)  Mostly, I think he has a bad case of cabin fever!!  It is snowing again today, and we are all just tired of the cold weather!

     Friday also means it's time for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge!  I stamped this super cute monkey (C.C. Designs...available at All That Scraps) onto watercolor paper with Palette ink.  I then used my Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol to color the monkey in.  The rest is just embellishments!  :-)

I wanted to add some leaves, so I cut out some leaf shapes from Old Olive c.s. and glued them onto the branch. 

Make sure  you see what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have created for this sketch!  :-)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Monkey Love, Little Penguins (C.C. Designs)   Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, Close to Cocoa, Various ink pads for watercoloring, Sahara Sand   Paper: Watercolor paper, Fall Flowers DP, Old Olive, Choc. Chip   Other: Nestabilities, Three For You punch box, Brads, Ribbon, Sewing machine