Just Give Me Stamps...

Sweet Birthday...

Wow...it's hard to believe that today is the last day of June!!  It amazes me how quickly the days go by!  We have been thoroughly enjoying our wonderful weather!  All the moisture we've gotten (yeah, including all the snow...LOL!) has really made things SO beautiful - greener than we've seen in years!!  I'll have to try and remember to snap some pictures this evening...

Here's a quick and easy birthday card I made earlier today.          

I used one of the cupcakes  and sentiment from the For the Love of Cupcakes set to create this little 4 1/4" square card.  The cupcake tops are paper pieced and I added a button on top of each one.  OH...I learned a very random but possibly very useful thing while making this card!  I had all of my pieces embossed, stamped, and paper pieced...practically all finished (I just needed to adhere them all together) when I smudged some sugar-free chocolate onto the white part of the cupcake!!  ARGHHH!!!  Well, then I thought I would try erasing it (why not, right?)...and guess what?  It worked!!  Yep, just a plain ole' pink eraser did the trick!  Woohoo!!  So...eat as much chocolate as you want while stamping (as long as you have an eraser handy)!  LOL!

Well, that's it from me today!  I hope you all enjoy your day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: For the Love of Cupcakes   Paper: Choice White c.s., Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Polka Dot paper (PTI)   Ink: Memento Dark Chocolate, Chocolate Chip craft ink   Other: Clear detail e.p., Square punch, White grosgrain ribbon, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, Buttons, Sewing Machine

You're Amazing...

Happy Sunday afternoon to you!  We had a birthday party (our neighbor's son turned 7) to go to today and the weather was SO wonderful!!  With our winters lasting so long, I think I'm more apt to enjoy the sunshine while we have it!  Anyway, I thought I'd share with you the card I made him...   

 

The boy who I made this card for is a complete cowboy at heart!  He loves anything and everything that involves horses!  What a perfect opportunity to use the adorable image!  I just love this "Cowboy Ethan" image...and I love the heart behind it!  Pink Cat Studio has lovingly created some digital images in honor of Eithan Weiman and is donating all of the sales to the Wake a Wish Foundation!  How amazing is that?!!?!

After coloring the image in with my Prismacolor pencils (blended with Baby Oil), I mounted it on some Breaking Free patterned paper (by My Mind's Eye).  I kept the embellishments to a minimum (not an easy feat, I tell ya!!) adding some Chocolate Twill, some brads, a little burlap twine (for the rope), and I did manage to sneak in a little bling (Gold Stickles on the belt buckle).

Well, I better go give my boys a bath...we have swimming lessons bright and early tomorrow!  I hope you all are enjoying what's left of your weekend!!  Hugs,  Laurie

New Stamps!!

Happy Weekend!!  :-)  The sun is shining (which means it is finally quit snowing here in Montana LOL!!!), the weather is warm (should get to the mid 70's today :-), AND I've got new stamps to play with!  Life is so good! 

Speaking of new stamps...Verve Stamps released Four new sets and Three new Plain Jane stamps last night!  There were so many people at the release party...and it was going fast!  So fast in fact, that I had a hard time keeping up with everyone!  Good times!  If you couldn't make it to the release party, you can see all of the new stamps HERE.  Sooooo, which new set is your favorite?  It's a tough call for me...it's a tie between Kindred Spirits and Forever in Our Hearts.  Although, the 1 Peter 5:7 set is right up there, too! 

Speaking of new stamps, want to see what I made with them?

 

Here's a quick and easy card I made using the new Just For You set with some Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie paper.

 

And here's a "manly" card I made (using the Just For You and Forever in Our Hearts sets).  Is there anyone else that struggles to make masculine cards?  I always want to put "pretty" things on it...you know, like ribbons, buttons, sparkle, and stuff!  It's SO hard to embellish a masculine card!!  :-)

Well, we are off to enjoy the sunshine!  I've got some flowers to plant (I didn't get many...flowers have a tendency to "mysteriously" die on me...LOL!), and I think DH is coming home a bit early today and we are all going on a hike!  Woohooo!!  I hope you enjoy your day as well!  ~Laurie

Recipe (So Blessed card)   Stamps: Just for You
Paper: Antique White (PTI), Honey Pie (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Chocolate Chip craft ink, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, Lemon Tart ribbon (PTI), Border Punch, Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Corner Rounder punch (EK Success), Paper piercer, Button, Twine

Recipe (Just For You card)   Stamps: Just for You, Forever in our Hearts, Graph background
Paper: Kraft (PTI), Blue and Green c.s. (Prism)
Ink: Brocade Blue, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, Jumbo Eyelet, Sewing Machine, Twine, Clip

 

Birthday Wishes for Michelle...

Happy Friday!!  Today is Michelle's birthday (owner of Stamper's Dream), so I decided to use this week's Weekend Sketch Challenge (Cami is the hostess this week) to make her a birthday card!  :-)  Michelle, I hope you have a FABULOUS day...you deserve it!!!

 

I stamped and colored with Copics the lemon tree (from the new Life, Love, & Lemons set by Flourishes) for my main image.  Then, for the horizontal strip across the bottom, I pleated some White Crochet trim and added some Ivory Taffeta ribbon (that I dyed to match my card using a Copic marker), a button, and a tag.  I couldn't help myself...I just had to add some sparkle to those lemons (I used Stardust Stickles)!  The background paper is from the Basic Grey Porcelain pad and the yellow card stock is from the Sunflowers Prism pack.

Make sure to check out what the other Weekend Sketch Girls have made:  Charmaine, Cami, Lori, & Sharon!

Have a wonderful day!  ~Laurie

Kindred Spirits...

Today marks the first day of Verve Sneak Peeks!  Today through Friday there will peeks of the brand new sets over at the Verve Blog!  And trust me...you will definitely want to see these new sets!! 

 

The set being "peeked" today is called Kindred Spirits.  One of the things that I just LOVE about Julee's stamps is that they work together so well!!  Well, that and they are just flat out gorgeous!  :-) 

For my card I paired a fairly "modern" color combo (Black, Smokey Grey, & Coral) with a bit of a "vintage" style.  I stamped the Fleur de Lis border along the bottom of five strips of Coral patterned paper (Breaking Free by My Mind's Eye) and then cut around it to create a sort of decorative edge.  I then used my paper distresser to rough up the edges...which also caused some white to show up on the edges.  :-)  The sentiment (from the same set) is embossed using Black Detail e.p.  on to the Smokey Grey card base.

You can see more of the Kindred Spirits set by checking out what the other Divas created over at the Verve Stamps blog!

Well, I'm headed out the door!  I hope you all have a fantastic day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Kidnred Spirits (Verve Stamps)   Paper: Black, Smokey Grey, White, Coral patterned paper (Breaking Free by My Mind's Eye)   Ink: Smokey Grey (PTI), Versamark   Other: Black detail e.p., Fleur de Lis punch border (EK Success), Grey organdy ribbon, Heart charm, Paper piercer

From the Heart...

Wow!  I can hardly believe it's Monday already (well, actually it's almost Tuesday :-)!  Time really goes by SO quickly, doesn't it?  Today was the first day of swimming lessons for our boys.  So, for the next couple of weeks we are going to be B*U*S*Y!  There are many, many perks of living way out in the country...and then there are drawbacks (like driving an hour one way for swimming lessons every day for two weeks straight)!  Seeing the looks on their faces today (our two little ones could not stop smiling :-) made it all more than worthwhile!

After we got home, I went into my stamp room and was finally able to finish the card I started last Friday.  I was in the mood for something soft and pretty, so I chose some beautiful My Mind's Eye paper and my Butterfly Beauties set (from Stampendous!) 

 

The sentiment is from the General Sayings set by Whiff of Joy.  To finish it off, I chose to add some Pink Silk ribbon (I looove this ribbon!).  The decorative border was made with one of my EK Success border punches. 

Well, I'm not too chatty tonight....sorry.  :-)  I don't know why I'm so tired...all I did was sit on the side and watch!  LOL!  Anyway, I will be back in a couple of days with something new to share!  Hugs, Laurie

June Kit of the Month...

Today, the June Key Ingredients from Taylored Expressions is available and I have a couple of samples that I made with it to share with you!  Taylor issued us a challenge to go along with our KI kit - to create a project for a June event that includes some dimension (I LOVE adding dimension to my projects!!) but we couldn't use any Copics (GASP!!)!    

 

For this little 4 x 4 card, I used images from theFor the Love of Cupcakes set.  I decided to put a stack of hearts on the platter (which is embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder) instead of a cupcake.  This isn't for a specific June event, but I needed a thank you card...and well, it is June!  LOL!  All of the supplies are from the KI except the Taylor's Tiny Twinkles that I added to the hearts.  

For this card I used the Enjoy Every Moment set from Stampin' Up!.  I distressed all of the edges and stitched around a couple of the layers.  For embellishments, I added a large Prima flower, two white Candy Dots, and some Ric-Rac (all from the June KI kit).

Both cards have one or more layers popped up using Taylor's 1/16" Foam Tape.

Taylor has lots of info about the June KI on her blog...including all the "extras" that are included when you subscirbe to her KI kits!  Oh, HUGE enabler alert:  Taylor is having a MOVING SALE (20% - 50% off)!!  You can read more about it HERE. 

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you're enjoying your weekend!  ~Laurie

Cowabunga, Dude!

Woohooo for Friday!  :-)  You know what Friday means, don't you?  Another fun Weekend Sketch Challenge!  Today Sharon is our hostess and she has posted a wonderful sketch that you can see HERE!

I kind of messed up on my card...didn't follow the sketch like I should have.  The vertical strip (that should be on the left part of the card) must have wandered away...  After I had my card all but finished I noticed that I had forgotten that part, but I was too tired to start over.    

Isn't this image so fun?  I always crack up when I am working with these cupcakes...I love 'em!  I stamped the surfer cuppie (from the Beach Bum set) onto White Choice c.s. using Tuxedo Black ink and then colored it in with Copics.  Since this card is for my son I decided to show some serious "glitterrestraint" (it was tough, though...cuz' that water was just asking for some!!)!  The Cosmo Cricket Snorkel paper, horizontal strip across the bottom, & the bling (except I won't tell my son that's what the red things are called LOL!) are all from the Beach Bum Key Ingredients Kit.

Want to see more Weekend Sketch Challenge Inspiration?  Check out what Cami, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, & Sharon have created!

I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Recipe   Stamps: Beach Bum (Taylored Expressions)   Paper: Choice White, Baja Breeze, Basic Black, Vellum c.s., Cosmo Cricket Snorkel patterned paper   Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento Ink   Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities, Bling, White gel pen, Paper piercer, Black help, Modern Tag punch

It's Good to Dream...

I'm back with another project using the new Stampin' Up! In Colors!  Today I chose to work with Rich Razzleberry...a beautiful color (and I'm not usually not drawn to purples)!  I think that this color holds the potential of making some unique and wonderful color combos!                

 

Another quick card from me...not sure what's up, but that seems to be what appeals to me lately!  Anyway, I started with a Rich Razzleberry 4" square card base.  The background (can you believe that there is NO patterned paper on my card!  GASP!) was made by lining up the piece of Natural c.s. on my grid paper and drawing lines using my Rich Razzleberry marker every 1/4".  I then lightly stamped the small flower in a random pattern on top of my "homemade lined" paper.   (What I mean by "lightly" is that I first stamped the flower on scratch paper and then stamped on my c.s. without re-inking).  I then stamped the large floral image (all stamps are from the new Razzle Dazzle set) using Rich Razzleberry ink.  It's hard to see, but I added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter to it as well.  Then...a little paper distressing, some embellishments, and stitching and my card is finished!  :-)  Oh, I forgot...I added some "spritzes" using the Color Spritzer Tool and my Rich Razzleberry marker!  That thing is a lot of fun...I can see where it would be easy for me to get carried away!  LOL!

Well, that's all from me today.  I hope you are enjoying your week so far!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Razzle Dazzle (Stampin' Up!)   Paper: Naturals Ivory, Rich Razzleberry   Ink: Rich Razzleberry   Other: Modern Label punch, Vanilla taffeta ribbon, Antique brads, Sewing Machine, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Treat Box Trifecta...

Good Morning!  Today I have a fun and very easy project (well actually three projects :-) to share with you!  This month's Verve Project Parade's theme is "It's a Guy Thing".  I decided to make something for my favorite three "little" guys - my sons (or as my friend calls them "The Sons of Thunder")!  LOL!  They are the sweetest, funnest, smartest, kindest, most wonderful-est (ok, so maybe that's not a real word :-) boys a mother could ever ask for!  I just adore them!!  So, here are the "just because" treats I made for them...

 

As I was staring at the "aftermath" of these projects laying on my desk (you know, the scraps, ribbon pieces, and what not), it finally occurred to me that I used VERY bright colors on my projects and I did not cringe...not even once!!  That's stamping growth I tell ya!  LOL!!  Seriously though, these projects came together soooo quickly!  I found three super cute box templates (all from Splitcoast Stampers) and paired them with the clever sentiments from the new Verve set Sweet on You. 

For links to the templates, more product details, & to see how you can win some FREE Verve stamps check out my post on the Verve Stamps Blog!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you all have the best Monday ever!  :-)  ~Laurie