Just Give Me Stamps...

Sketch Time!

Happy Saturday!!  I have a quick post for you today... 

Today is my last week to host the Our Creative Corner challenges, and I thought a sketch would be a fun way to end the month!  You can see the sketch HERE.

I used the new You Are the Potter set from Our Daily Bread Designs combined with some pretty papers from S.E.I. (you can't see from the photo, but the papers have a subtle sheen to them).

 

If you think there is something different about the vellum I used, you're right!  I really wish you could all see this in real life, because then you could see the gorgeous pattern this vellum has! 

You can see all the cards the OCC DT came up with, the sketch, as well as a little surprise Jennifer has for those that play along this week over at the OCC blog.

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

Spring Monochromatic Card...

Happy Thursday!  It's time for another Stamper's Dream Challenge...and this month we are to make a Monochromatic card.  Well, I happen to love monochromatic cards (almost as much as I love vellum)!  :-)

I thought I would pull out my Spring Fling set (by Pink Paislee), since it was just begging to be inked up!!  In keeping with the Spring theme, I chose pink as my color and white as my neutral. 

 

I know what you're thinking...that this is not my "usual" style, and you're right!  I almost can't believe it myself!!  Heehehee!  I wanted to go more "clean", so I kept my layers to a minimum, and used more white than color.  For embellishments, I added some buttons, rhinestones, butterflies (from a butterfly punch), and some rope (I actually bought this from my grocery store). 

You can see what the other Stamper's Dream girls have created here: Charmaine, Cindy, Denise, Kim, Michelle, & Tosha.  Oh, and if you would like to play along, Michelle is offering up a chance to win some goodies!

Thanks for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Spring Fling (Pink Paislee)   Paper:  Neenah White, Pink Prism c.s. trio, My Mind's Eye (Tiny Dancer)   Ink: Versamark, Rose Red   Other: White e.p., Clear e.p., Butterfly punch, Rhinestones, Buttons, Paper piercer, Rope

OCC Tag Challenge...

 Happy Saturday!  Today, I have a special card to share with you.  This week's Our Creative Corner challenge, is to create a card with a tag somewhere on the front of it.  I decided to make mine for my daughter, Alison.

We are leaving early tomorrow morning to head back to Seattle, where the doctors will operate on Ali.  She is a little nervous (after all, it is brain surgery...), but mostly she is so glad to possibly put this behind her soon!  Through this whole trial, two things has remained constant...her faith and her joy!  She is one of those people that almost always has a smile on her face...and it's genuine!  I cannot even tell you what a treasure she is to us, and how blessed we are to even know her!  So, this card is a "just because" kind of card.  "Just Because" she is so: brave, strong, kind, full of life, beautiful, faithful, tenacious, and fun-loving!

I often ask Ali her opinion on my cards...which papers I should use, which ribbon she thinks looks better, should I add some Dew Drops (she almost always says "yes" to that LOL!), and so I thought I could get her opinion on some "fun and hip" papers without her knowing why!  Teehehehe!  So, that's exactly what I did!  She chose this slightly funky paper from Basic Grey (Phoebe Collection), and paired it with some subtle patterned paper from Crate Paper.  As soon as she left, I got to work!

I felt like this quote (from Verve Stamp's Hundred Hearts set) said exactly how we feel, so I wanted to showcase it as the focal point of the card.  I used my Long Rectangle Nestabilities to create my "tag", and layered it over some vellum c.s., Pink ric-rac, and a large heart.  I added some whimsical stitching, ribbon, flowers, Dew Drops, and a swanky little crown charm!

Be sure to check out wha the other OCC girlies created:  Amy, Cindy Haffner, Dawn Easton, Jackie Pedro, Jennifer Meyer, Julee Tilman, Kim Teasdale, Laurie Schmidlin, Lori Boyd, Lynda Benden, and Silke Ledlow.  Also, a big thanks to this week's guest designer - Rose Ann Reynolds!!

Even though I'll be gone, I've got some WAY fun things to share with you!  :-)  I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Hundred Hearts (Verve Stamps)   Paper: Vellum c.s., White, Suede Brown Dark Prism c.s., Basic Grey Phoebe Collection, Crate Paper   Ink: Burnt Umber (Palette)   Other: Nestabilities, Heart Nestabilities, Ribbon, Dew Drops, Prima flower, Crown charm, Sewing Machine, Fibers

Newer Every Day...

Happy Friday!!  Here I am, posting this week's Weekend Sketch Challenge!!  Feels just like "old times" doesn't it?  LOL!!  I am SO glad Beate is back with her sketches...it just makes creating so much easier!  :-)

I was in need of a birthday card, and thought this week's sketch was perfect for it!  A friend of our family is turning 88 years old soon.  She is an incredibly kind, humble, energetic person, with such a profound wisdom and has blessed our family in many ways!  Because I wanted her card to be special, I reached for one of Rubbersoul's "Wordsworth Remembering" line (I chose theDickinson collection).  I love quotes, and these stamps showcase some of my favorite ones!

   

I embossed the quote onto Pearlized Cream cardstock, added a subtle flourish (also from the Dickinson Collection), and layered it onto a vellum panel.  Instead of using another strip of cardstock, I placed a strip of ribbon below the quote.  The flourishy edge of the patterned paper (by Sassafrass Lass) is actually part of the paper!!  I LOVE it!!  The cream cardstock on the right, is actually the inside of the card...which I also decorated!  :-)

     

I used some of the same elements from the front, but changed the rectangle to an oval.

For more eye candy, check out what these talented ladies have created:  Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon!

Thanks for visiting!!  Have a wonderful Friday! ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Dickinson Collection (Rubbersoul)   Paper: Pearlized Cream c.s., Prism Blush c.s., Vellum, Sassafrass Lass patterned paper   Ink: Chooclate Chip, Versamark, Antique Linen Distress Ink, Cameo Coral   Other: Clear detail e.p., Nestabilities, Paper piercer, Buttons, Ribbon, Corner Rounder punch

Spring is in the Air...

Well, not here exactly...but somewhere I'm sure it is!!  LOL!  Spring is a long way off for us, but that actually makes me want to surround myself with beautiful Spring colors even more!  :-)  I have a couple of projects to share with you today...both of them very Spring-y!

The first project is a trio of Spring tags...perfect for Easter, Birthday, or Mother's Day gifts!

   

I stamped the large flower from I Am the Way (Our Daily Bread Designs) on to watercolor paper, water-colored using re-inkers, and mounted onto a "tag" that I made with my Curvy Rectangle Nestabilities.  The patterned paper is some glittery paper by My Mind's Eye - Laundry Line (I tired so hard for it to show up...but I'm not that good of a photographer), and the butterfly is a jeweled brad by Creative Imaginations.

This next card uses the same I Am the Way set, but this time I made an Easter card!

 

I used some Memory Box Provence patterned paper, and pulled the soft lavender and cocoa colors from it.  After coloring the flower with Copics, I added another flower (also colored with Copics) and popped it up.  You can barely see the shimmer, but I painted the flower with Angel Wings Shimmerz.  I tell ya, I LOVE that stuff!!  I was pleasantly surprised that even though it is a thin liquid, it dries quickly and does not warp the cardstock!  You should have seen me looking around my stamp room, trying to find something else that I could try this stuff out on!!  Heehehee!  You know how I feel about shimmery/sparkly stuff!  Mmmm, mmmm!  I finished off my card, with some stitching, ribbon, and some Dew Drops.

I have been receiving some VERY fun new stamps, and I can't wait to show you what I making with them!! 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a wonderful day!  ~Laurie

The Winner of the Hello Spring Set Is...

According to random.org, the winner of the newly released Hello Spring set (from Our Craft Lounge) is......

Here are your random numbers:

306 

Timestamp: 2009-02-15 23:05:46 UTC

Congratulations Tracy!!  Wooohoooo!!  I will be emailing you shortly...  You are going to LOVE this set!!  :-)

A Sketch on Caffeine...

Happy Saturday!  For today's Our Creative Corner challenge, I created a sketch.  Can you believe it!!??!!  Thanks to Jennifer (she helped me figure Photoshop out), I am now a "sketch maker"!  LOL!! 

I've had this What's Brewing (by Impression Obsession) set for a while, and have been eager to ink it up.  I really like the Vintage look this set has...it's SO me (as my daughter Alison pointed out)! 

I'm not sure what it is with Black cardstock, but I sure have been using a lot of it lately!  :-)  I will do my best to move on after this...  Teehehee!  The card is really straight forward, except for the coffee mug.  I embossed the mug onto Antique White c.s., colored it in with my Copics, and then stamped my Antique Cracking background stamp over it (in Versafine Onyx).  For embellishments, I added some Dew Drops, stitching, ribbon, and a punched bottom border.

This week's OCC challenge has a bonus challenge as well!  I thought it would be fun to send the finished challenge card to someone special to you (especially someone that you don't tell often enough how much they mean to  you).  It could be anyone...a co-worker, a neighbor, and extended family member, a close family member for that matter :-), a friend, or how about someone who is serving in the Armed Forces?  To play along, check out the OCC blog for details!

A HUGE thanks to Tosha Leyendekker...this week's Guest Designer!  You can see her card, as well as all of the OCC girls' cards HERE.

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

P.S.  Don't' forget to sign up for the Our Craft Lounge blog candy (click HERE to sign up)!  I will be drawing the winner on Sunday!

Recipe   Stamps: What's Brewing (Impression Obsession), Antique Cracking (SU!)   Paper: Natural Kraft, Black c.s., Patterned Paper (Graphic 45)   Ink: Versafine Onyx, Antique Linen Distress Ink   Other: Clear e.p., Nestabilities, Ribbon, Dew Drops, Martha Stewart punch border, Sewing machine

Springtime Chic...

Happy Friday!!  I'm SOO excited!!  Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenges are BACK!!!  Wooohoooo!!!!  And...the sketches are just back...they are BACK!!!  I had way too much fun with this sketch!!  At first, I was definitely out of my comfort zone.  I don't do "fun and funky" very well, but I thought I'd give it a try.  :-)  Well, the more I played with it...the more I LOVED it!! 

I just love how this card turned out!  I think, mostly because it's so different from my normal style.  Well, that and I got to use my new Hello Spring set from Our Craft Lounge!!  The design is so simple (it really is...I promise!!)...I just let the sketch and the fun patterned paper (from PTI) do all the work for me!  Hehehee!  For embellishments, I added some bling, ribbon, and a fun felt flower that I found in my stash!  (Remember last week how I mentioned that many times I create a card around an embellishment?  Well, this was definitely one of those times!!  LOL!)

You can see this week's sketch (Weekend Sketch #68) HERE.  Now...for some more eye candy, check out what Beate, Cambria,Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have created!

I've got lots more to show you this weekend, so if you get a chance make sure to stop back by!  Also, don't forget to enter to win the Hello Spring set from Our Craft Lounge (HERE is the link to that post) and in case you missed it, I updated my retired Stampin' Up! sets that are for sale...you can see those HERE.  Thanks for dropping by...I hope you have a wonderful day!  ~Laurie

Some CRAFTY Blog Candy!!

Today, Our Craft Lounge is releasing 28 brand spankin' new stamp sets!!  You can see all of them HERE!  And, what's better than brand new stamps???  Brand new stamps for FREE!!  :-) 

You can win one of my most favorite sets - Hello Spring, courtesy of Cambria, Joy, & Kimberly!!  Wooohooo!!  Just leave a comment on this post, and on Sunday I will choose a random winner (please only one comment per person)! 

   

Want a chance to win even more new Our Craft Lounge stamps?  Check out Cambria's blog!  Good Luck!  :-)

All Wrapped Up...

Happy Thursday!  Today, I have the honor to share with you a "sneak peek" of a brand new Flourishes set called All Wrapped Up!  Michelle at Stamper's Dream, is now carrying Flourishes stamps!  I really love this set in particular, because it fills such a specific need for birthday cards.  I have stamps that are great for younger recipients...but I've been wanting a set that I could use to make cards for adults...and this one is perfect!!

   

I decided to go the paper piecing route...verses coloring the package in. I used two different patterned papers (from K & Co) and accented them with Black cardstock.  The gift is layered several times for a 3-D effect (see close-up photo below).  For embellishments, I added some Black Pearls, a heart charm, some Doodlebug ribbon, and an embossed lace border (made from my Martha Stewart border punch).

This set will be available Friday from Stamper's Dream!  To see more sneak peeks of the All Wrapped Up set, check out what Cindy, Kim, & Tosha have made! 

Thanks for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: All Wrapped Up (Flourishes)   Paper: Ocean Tides, Black c.s. (PTI), K & Co. Patterned Paper   Ink: Versafine Onyx   Other: Clear detail e.p., Labels1 Nestabilities, Black Pearls, Martha Stewart border punch, Corner rounder punch, Heart charm, Doodlebug ribbon