Just Give Me Stamps...

Several Things to Share...

Happy Tuesday!  I have several things to share with you today.  First, I wanted to share this picture I took yesterday of our three puppies.  One of our dogs had puppies a couple of months ago...and we've always known that we were going to keep one and give the rest away.  Well, as these guys grow(well, actually they are all girls...heheheee), the thought of parting with any of them is pretty tough.  (I think I have my husband almostconvinced that we should keep them and not give them away :-).  They are SO much fun to watch while they play.   They are so full of life (and mischief)...and the day that I took this picture, they were especially rambunctious!  They were running, playing, tearing up anything that the kids might have left outside, play fighting, & yapping at the wind all morning...so come afternoon they were wiped out!  When I saw them all cuddled up together, I just had to take a picture!  We affectionately call them the Three Musketeers!

This first card is one that I made for today's color challenge over at Splitcoast (Baja Breeze, Really Rust, & Chocolate Chip).  Well, fall colors are some of my favorite, so I just had to play along!  I stamped this Pumpkins in Moonlight stamp by Penny Black with Versamark ink.  I then used my chalks to color the image in...I just love the softness of it!  I then mounted it on some Memory Box patterned paper (from the Twiggy Collection).  I then added some twill, a decorative brad, piercings, and some stitching for the finishing touches.

 

It seems like so many of my friends are going through some difficult things, so I am in need of quite a few "thinking of  you" type of cards.  So, I put this next card together rather quickly, but I'm pleased with the result!  I started by picking my paper (I chose these two patterns from Chatterbox) and pulled my colors from them.  I embossed this bird and vine (from Inkadinkado's Birds Galore set) onto Neenah Solar White c.s. and used my oval Nestabilities to create the layered and scalloped ovals.  I added some mini white Prima flowers with some Blush colored pearls to the vine...along with some piercings around the edge of the oval.  Next to the Thinking of You sentiment (from Hero Art's Thinking of You set), I added some more of the Blush pearls (they are sooooo pretty in real life!!!).  That's it...very simple!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!  ~Laurie

Some AMAZING Blog Candy!!

My friend Tosh is giving away some AMAZING blog candy!!  If you haven't already...make sure to check it out (click HERE)!  You have until tomorrow to enter!  :-)

~Laurie

OCC Stitching Challenge...

Happy Saturday!!  We are having the nicest weather right now!  In fact...it reminds me of an "Indian Summer" type of Fall...where the nights are pretty cool (freezing temps), but the days are in the low 70's.  (I figured that as much as I've complained about our weather in the past, that I should also mention there are times when it's notsnowing...heheheee!)  Well, all of the trees are changing colors, and it just sparks this desire in me to start using warmer and richer colors in my stamping as well! 

Today's Our Creative Corner challenge is to use stitching on our card...but we have to use color (no white thread allowed).  I had picked up this copper thread at JoAnn's quite a while ago, and thought it would be perfect for today's challenge!  :-)

   

I also thought it might be fun to give you a "sneak peek" of some new Our Daily Bread Designs images!  I embossed the cross (from the soon to be released Flourished Christian Symbols) in copper onto vellum c.s (I layered the vellum on top of a piece of the same green patterned paper as the background).  The verse is also embossed in copper, but I used Neenah Natural White c.s. instead of the vellum.  This card really is fairly simple, but I think that with these bold colors it needed to be.

Our Daily Bread Designs in releasing five (yes FIVE!!) new sets on October 1st!  I know, teasing is not nice (LOL!), but I do have something fun to share with you that you don't have to wait for!  Kelley is offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders placed this weekend!  Here's the coupon code:

     

Don't forget to check out what the other talented OCC Designers (Amy, Cindy, Dawn, Denise, Jennifer, Julee, & Lynda) have created...you can see them all over at the OCC Blog.

Thanks for stopping by today...I hope you have a fantastic weekend!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Flourished Christian Symbols (ODBD)   Paper: Neenah Natural White c.s., Vellum c.s., Metallic Copper c.s., Patterned Paper (Prima Marketing)   Ink: Versamark   Other: Copper e.p., Spellbinder's Tags die, Dew Drops, Copper thread, Ribbon

An Unexpected Fall Card...

When I was looking through my patterned paper last night, I came across this paper (from Crate Paper's Sweet Branch Collection) and was immediately drawn to it.  I've had it for a while now ((blush))...but for some reason the colors really stood out to me again.  I kept thinking that they were so interesting together...and very unexpected!  So...as my thought process continued...I started to wonder what "category" I could put these colors under and then it hit me!  These colors aren't spring-y...they have some summer-y type colors yet not completely summer-y.  That's when I thought that these colors would really work for "Fall" colors!!  I know...not traditional, but I just had to give it a try!!

I embossed the Autumn Tree from Inkadinkado's Cats & Bats set using Chocolate Chip craft ink and Clear Detail e.p..  I then highlighted the tree with my Dull Lavender Copic marker (mostly to tie in the colors from the paper :-) and added some mini rhinestones.  The sentiment is from Hero Art's Thinking of You set.  The ribbon is Papertrey's Summer Sunrise grosgrain ribbon.

Not only are the colors "unexpected", but so is the opening of this card!  :-)  I've included a picture of the inside (the solid color c.s. inside is from the Twilight Prism Paper pack) and one from the side so that you can better see how it opens.  :-)

 

  

I hope you all enjoy your afternoon!  I'll be back in the morning for another fun Our Creative Corner challenge!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Cats & Bats (Inkadinkado), Thinking of You (Hero Arts)   Paper: Prism c.s. (Twilight collection), Dark Chocolate, Sweet Branch patterned paper collection (Crate Paper)   Ink: Chocolate Chip craft and classic, Antique Linen Distress Ink   Other: Clear detail e.p., Nestabilities, Summer Sunrise grosgrain ribbon (Papertrey), Rhinestones, Copic marker (Dull Lavender)

Weekend Sketch Challenge #59...

Happy Friday!!!  Woohoo for the weekend!!  :-)  It feels SO good to be back in my stamp room again!!  So...without further chit chat I want to share with you the card I made for Beate's Weekend Sketch challenge #59!

     

I started with some of my absolute favoritest patterned paper...Bella Rose (Stampin' Up!).  For my three panels, I stamped some of the flourishes and butterfly fromInkadinkado's Bohemian Flourishes in Chocolate Chip ink onto Neenah Natural White c.s..  I embossed the butterfly stamp in Riding Hood Red, cut it out, and glued it over the Chocolate Chip one (I do love browns...but not for butterflies LOL!).  I also wanted to add a little more color...so I embossed one of the small flowers several times using Pink Pirouette ink (stamped on cream paper they almost look more peach than pink  :-), cut them out, and glued them randomly onto the flourishes.  For the scalloped circle sentiment, I embossed the "Thank You" stamp from Inkadinkado's Expressions set in Chocolate Chip directly onto the patterned paper.  For the finishing touches, I added some rhinestones, brads, & ribbon.  :-)

To see more gorgeous cards using this sketch, check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine,Jenn, Mary Jo, & Sharon have created!!

I hope you have a wonderful Friday!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Bohemian Flourishes, Expressions (both by Inkadinkado)   Paper: Neenah Natural White, Bella Rose DP, Dark Chocolate c.s., Riding Hood Red   Ink: Chocolate Chip (Classic and Craft), Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa, Versamark   Other: Clear Detail e.p., Nestabilities, Rhienstones, Brads, Dark Chocolate satin ribbon

Quilted Abundant Blessings...

I'm back!  I know, I know...long time no post!  :-)  Sometimes life just gets so busy that I feel like I have to run just to keep up (and stamping time is usually a figment of my imagination)!  Also, my daughter has been pretty sick, so I have had my hands full taking care of her.  The good news is that we think we've finally found some medicine that helps, so things are looking up!  I also have not even had a chance to wade through my email....so if you haven't heard back from me yet, I will write back...it will just take me a few days.  :-)

After not stamping for quite a while, it felt good to be back in my "special room" (as my two year old son calls it LOL!)!!  I stamped this for Verve's September "Gettin' Krafty" Project Parade Challenge! 

    

I just LOVE the versatility of kraft c.s....so it was only natural (pun intended LOL!!!) to pair it with my newest favorite Verve set Abundant Blessings!  I embossed the silhouette flowers (from the Abundant Blessings set) using Chocolate Chip craft ink and Clear detail e.p.  I added some "filler" using another one of the silhouette stamps inked in Sahara Sand.  To create the quilted background, I lightly drew pencil lines at 1" intervals (mostly because I couldn't sew a straight line on my own if my life depended on it LOL!).  I then stitched along the lines and afterward erased any leftover pencil markings.  To finish the card, I added some Dew Drops, a sentiment tag, and a scalloped lace bottom edge.

You can play along...and be entered to win $15 in Verve Bucks!  Just link your creation to THIS post at the Verve blog by September 30th! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Abundant Blessings   Paper: Lemon Tart, Stamper's Select White, Kraft, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey)   Ink: Chocolate Chip craft, Sahara Sand, White craft (Stampin' Up!)   Other: Clear detail e.p., Nestabilities, Spellbinder's Tag Trio, Scallop lace punch (Martha Stewart), Sewing Machine, Scor-Pal, Lemon Tart Satin ribbon (Papertrey), Natural hemp

Calendars For a GREAT Cause!

I'm SO excited to share the following projects with you for a couple of reasons!  One, they benefit a very worthy cause (more about that below)...and two, well...they are soooo fun!!  I'm talking bout the 2008-2009 A Muse Calendars!!

Last year, Linda Carnell, owner of A Muse, designed a calendar to raise funds for Scleroderma Research, an illness her mother suffers from.  The project was so successful, that she was determined to expand the variety of calendars, and find another great cause to support!

In honor of Victoria Nelson, an avid fan of A Muse, who is undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s Disease, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this year’s calendar will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

This year’s Calendar features 16 months and includes Sept 2008 through December 2009.  It also includes a perpetual calendar which is great for keeping track of birthdays and anniversaries.  The calendar has been designed in several different sizes.

There are THREE donation levels per calendar.  The minimum donation is $4 per calendar, but, there is also an option to donate $10 or $20 for each version.

 

 

I just love the versatility of these calendars!!  For my first sample, I used the Perpetual Calendar (square format) to create an important dates notebook.

 

 

 

Here is a picture of one of the inside pages.

 

 

 

When I first saw these calendars, I thought it would be fun to just print just one month and use it on a card...for an invitation or even a birthday card!  Here, I used it for a Halloween party invite and just highlighted the 31st!  :-)

 

 

 

What a wonderful way to create fun gifts and projects for friends and family (and even yourself :-) while contributing to a great cause as well!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you enjoy your Monday!  ~Laurie

Recipe (first project)   Stamps: Cow, Party Time (A Muse)   Paper: Neenah Natural White, Dark Chocolate, Berry Sorbet (Papertrey Inc.),   Ink:   Chocolate Chip craft ink   Other: A Muse square Calendar, Bind it All, Berry Sorbet ribbon, Nestabilities, Copic markers

Recipe (second project)   Stamps: Trick or Sweet (Stamp a Sweet Impression by Taylored Expressions), Mini Oval (A Muse)   Paper: Stamper's Select White (Papertrey), Stampin' Up! Halloween DP, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Pumpkin Pie, Going Gray   Other:  Black Sticles, A-2 card size calendar from A Muse, Ribbon, Brads, Crystal Effects

OCC Sketch Challenge...

Happy Saturday!  Today's Our Creative Corner Challenge is a wonderful sketch designed by Amy (this month's hostess).

I knew that I wanted to use the new Hope set from Our Daily Bread Designs, but I took quite a while to decide on colors.  :-)  I kept gravitating towards more "vintage" colors but tried to tell myself that hope ribbons aren't vintage!  LOL!  Well, as you can see, I wasn't very effective...  LOL!  I really just couldn't help myself! 

 

I ended up using some of my all time favorite patterned paper (by K & Co.)...and ink distressing all of the edges.  After I thought about it...I realized that the colors are pretty to look at, but it's the wonderful and life giving message that really counts!  I really love this set...and have used it many times already.  There are just so many people that are in need of hope!  This particular card is going to Kelley's friend, Sandy...who is battling liver and colon cancer.  You can read more about Sandy on Kelley's blog.

To see the sketch and all of the OCC designer's cards, please visit the OCC blog!

I hope you all have a blessed Saturday!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Hope (Our Daily Bread Designs), Frames with a Flourish   Paper: Pearlized Cream c.s., Dark Chocolate (Papertrey), Patterned paper (K & Co.)   Ink: Chocolate Chip craft ink, Close to Cocoa, Antique Linen Distress ink, Bordering Blue, Baja Breeze   Accessories: Clear detail e.p., Dew Drops, Primas, Ribbon, Sewing Machine, Decorative brad, Scallop border punch, Paper piercer

A Ten Minute Card...

Whew!  I'm finally able to post my Weekend Sketch Challenge card!  Two of my kiddos are not feeling well, so I've been busy taking care of them.  On the bright side, I've gotten lots of cuddles...something I don't usually get from my "too-busy-to-sit-still-for-even-a-second" two year old son!  :-)

When everyone was resting, I slipped away to stamp.  I paired some of this new patterned paper (by Martha Stewart) with Beate's Weekend Sketch # 57.  (Yes, I'm late in posting this....soooo bad, I know!  :-)  The sentiment and flower are from Verve Stamp's Floral Whimsy set.

   

Looking for for more inspiration for this sketch?  Check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have made...you will surely be inspired!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Floral Whimsy   Paper: Shimmery White c.s., Dark Chocolate (Papertrey), Martha Stewart patterned paper   Ink: Chocolate Chip (Classic & Craft)   Other: Nestabilities, Dark Chocolate polka-dot ribbon (Papertrey), Clear e.p., Decorative brads

And Mark it With a "B"...

Happy Friday!  I've got a lot of fun stuff to show you today!  When I first started thinking about what to make with my JustRite stamps, I jotted some notes down...and I actually ended up with quite a list (and I will be trying most of them out at one point or another)!   It wasn't until last week that I finally decided on a project...and it wasn't even on my "list"!  LOL!  I was in town doing some errands and my five year old son, Bryan, pointed excitedly to the "B" on the side of the mountain saying, "Look Mom, it's B...B for Bryan"!!!  This isn't the first time he's done this...in fact, he usually points this out every trip into town...all with the same excitement!  LOL!  Well, this got me thinking about how much he loves the letter B.  He just started kindergarten this year, and although he isn't officially "reading", he does know a lot of his letters and what they say...particularly the first letters of everyone in our family!  :-)  On our way home (which is an hour away from town), Bryan was coloring in a coloring book to help pass the time.  That's when it hit me!!  We will be going to Switzerland this year to visit my husband's family...which means a looooong airplane trip.  I knew right then that I wanted to make a little "travel kit" for him...and mark everything with the letter "B"!!  :-)

  This is the gift bag I made to hold all the goodies.  I used some Crate Paper (Zoom Collection) to cover a plain ol' brown lunch bag and create a tag (which is detachable so it can later be used as a bookmark).

  This picture show the notebook cover I made...the box of crayons...and the absolutely essential (at least for air travel) gum.  :-)

  In this picture, you can see a little bag of "coins" that I made a topper for.  Every traveler needs money right?  (Even if they are chocolate...hehehee!)  I also created a "dog tag" for this adorable stuffed doggie...with a "B" on it of course!

Here is a picture of the whole ensemble...and yes, that is a LOT of "B"s!  LOL!  I love that this didn't take very long...but will for sure be appreciated!  :-)  Michelle has lots of fun new JustRite products in stock...and don't forget about the FREE C-45 Monogram Stamper that she is giving away on her blog!!  Also...make sure to check out what Tosh comes up with tomorrow!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  ~Laurie