Just Give Me Stamps...

Christmas Wishes...

Christmas in July?  Yep, it's true!  I have officially gotten my Christmas card making into full swing!  YEAH!!  Actually, I can't take all of the credit for my early start.  :-)  It was the Waltzingmouse Sketch #8 (found on the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog) that sparked the idea for this card! 

 
I started by stamping one of the background images from Pic-Nic Patterns onto the Kraft background layer using white pigment ink.  I chose to add this cuuuuuute gingerbread man (from the Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy set) in the place of the large flower from the sketch (you can see the sketch HERE).  For the smaller circles, I added buttons and embossed stars.  (The star image as well as the sentiment are also from the Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy set from Waltzingmouse Stamps.)

Here's a close-up picture so you can see those fun little stars better! 

If you want to play along with this fun sketch, you can read all the deets over at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog!  :-)
  
Well, that's all from me today!  I hope you have a fun and memorable Saturday!  
Hugs ~ Laurie

 
Stamps:  Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy, Pic-Nic Patterns (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Paper:  Kraft, White c.s.
Ink:  Choclate Chip craft ink, White pigment ink, Versamark
Accessories:  Clear Detail e.p., Buttons, Silver e.p., Scor-Bee, String

Waltzingmouse New Release Blog Waltz...

Welcome to the Waltzingmouse Stamps August New Release Blog Waltz! 

If you've come here from Bonnie's blog, then you are on the right track!  In case you've just stopped by to see what I've been up to, then head on over to Claire's blog and she'll get you off to the right start!  :-)

 

For my card, I used the new Wanda's Pantryset.  I love how Claire's sets fit perfectly with my beloved Nestabilities (this card uses the Nesabilities Labels 4)! 

The patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket...and I grunged it up a bit to look even more "spooky"!  :-)

As with all of the Waltzingmouse Blog Waltzes, there are some fantastic prizes to be had!!!  Make sure you leave a little comment love (before Thursday 7/29 at 11:59 pm Eastern) on Claire's blog as well as all the Design Team members blogs for a chance to win some shiny new Waltzingmouse stamps!  :-)

Next up on our hop, is Lynn's blog - Stamperosity!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Groovy Snowman Card Ensemble...

Hi again!  I know, two posts in one day...I'm on fire!  LOL!!  If you are here to see my Waltzingmouse Stamps Day 3 Preview, scroll down or click HERE.

The other day, I was in the mood for creating some more Christmas projects (it's always better to start early :-) so I reached for my Groovy Snowman set (by JustRite Stampers).

 

This first picture shows the packaging I created for my little 4" notecards (and matching envelopes).  I used paper from the same collection (My Mind's Eye) for the whole ensemble.

I started by stamping each of the four snowmen (and snowgirls) images (all are from the Groovy Snowman set from JustRite Stampers) onto Kraft cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  I colored the images in with my Copics (the white on the snowmen is actually a "paint" from Copic).

 
I stitched around the patterned paper (and on some cards I did some "messy" stitching) for some added texture.

 
I used the same snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder for each of the cards.  After running the kraft background layer through my Cuttlebug, I rubbed on some Vintage Cream pigment ink.

 
I varied the embellishments a little bit from card to card, but they all have the same lace and Vanilla taffeta ribbon.

You can see this set (and all of the newly released Christmas sets) from JustRite Stampers at Stamper's Dream!

Well, that's all from me!  I hope you enjoy the rest of your day!!  ~Laurie

I Dare You...

Monday again?  How did that happen?  :-)  Is it just me, or is your summer flying by as well?  Anyway, we're on day 3 of the Waltzingmouse Stamps previews, and I've whipped up a fun little project to share with you!

 
 
I used the Midnight Feast set to create a slider type of box that is filled with some old-fashioned candy sticks!  The focal image and sentiment are both embossed using Black Detail embossing powder onto some lined patterned paper.  I wanted to tie in the purple a bit more, so I stamped the stars (also included in the Midnight Feast set) using Dusty Concord Distress Ink.
   

Don't you just love that sentiment?  Aaack!  It totally cracks me up!  See that little black tab at the bottom of the box?  That's a small piece of ribbon I adhered to the inside of the box to act a sort of "pull" for the box.

 

As you can see, I pulled my colors I used on the packaging from the candy sticks.  :-)

I also stamped the stars on the gray cardstock using black ink.  So fun!!

Both the Midnight Feast and Wanda's Pantry sets will be available for purchase TOMORROW!  Stay tuned for a blog hop to celebrate the new release!

In the mean time, check out what Anya, Belinda, Claire, Jennifer, Julia, Mona,Lisa, & Lynn have created!

Have a fabulous day!  ~Laurie

They Say it's Your Birthday...

...It's my birthday too, yeah!  Well, actually it's NOT my birthday too...but it IS Julee Tilman's (owner of Verve Stamps) birthday!!  Woohoooo! 

 
A few of Julee's friends are putttin' on a little blog hop to help celebrate her special day!  If you've arrived here from Patty's blog, then you are right on the birthday blog hop track!  :-)  If not, you definitely don't want to miss out on all the fun...so head back over to the Verve blog! 
 
For my card, I combined one of the medallion images from the Accent Notes set with one of the sentiments from the Big Wish set.  Some patterned paper, ribbon, embellishments and a punched border later my card was finished!  :-) 

Julee...I hope your day is the BEST ever!!!  Happy, happy birthday!!

Up next on this celebratory hop is Donna!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Trick or Treat...

Today is the first day of the Waltzingmouse Stamps previews!  That's right, two new sets will be coming your way in just a few short days (this coming Tuesday to be exact)!!

If you've been a reader of my blog for a while, then you already know that I'm a huge fan of gift ensembles!  I love to make a card and matching gift (usually full of treats)!  This new Waltzingmouse set, Midnight Feast, is absolutely perfect for my "goody" giving obsession!  {{grin}}  It's loaded with images and an assortment of sentiments that will facilitate any Fall/Halloween treat giving desire I might ever have!

In this close-up picture you can see the tag I made for my "bucket o' sweets".

In addition to the focal images you see here, this set also boasts a variety of background builder type of images (such as the stars that I used on my card)!

Ooooh, before I link you up to all of the other DT's amazing projects, I wanted to share some news with you!  Have you SEEN the new Waltzingmouse Stamps store yet?  Aaack!  Claire had it re-done and let me tell you it's FABULOUS!!  It even has a link to a WMS gallery!  Woohoo!!! 

The second bit of news, is that we are welcoming a new Design Team member!  A GREAT BIG welcome to the outrageously talented Mona Pendleton!!!  
  
   
Speaking of talented ladies...you should definitely check out what these ladies have created:  Anya, Bonnie, Claire, Jennifer, Julia, Lisa, Lynn, & Mona!

Thanks so much for poppin' in!  ~Laurie

Do YOU Dare??

 Happy Friday!!  It's Dare to Get Dirty Week over at Splitcoast Stampers!!  For those of you that are Fan Club Members, there is a whole week full of fabulous challenges and inspiration galore put on by Dirty Girls past and present!  Not a Fan Club Member?  Check out this link...it tells you about all of the benefits!! 

I have the honor of creating a sample card for Melanie Muechinger's challenge "How Does Your Garden Grow?"!   (Sorry, the link only works if you are a SCS Fan Club Member.)

I used Melanie's set called A Beautiful Lifeto create my sample card.  Flowers, sparkle, bling, & butterflies...definitely some of my most favorite things ever!  :-)  

Thanks for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Hello Friend...

A great big "Happy Monday" to you!    We've been super busy (as usual), but I "think" I am actually looking at several days of down time!  Woohooo!  I can definitely use a little down time!  Do you ever get in those slumps where your mojo goes missing on you?  Not only that, but you can't come up with an idea that sounds half way decent even if your life depended on it?  Yeah, that was me.  I say "was" because I think I'm on my way out!  All I want to do is head to my stamp room!!  I have ideas again (big sigh of relief), and now I only need some time to execute them!

Anyway, you didn't come here to hear me chatter on and on!  LOL!  Let me show you a card I finally photographed this evening...

First of all, it is very hard to not be inspired when you are stamping with BEAUTIFUL images like this one (Strawberries from Flourishes)!  This set brings back such good memories of my childhood!  My mom had a huuuuuge garden when I was young (well, it probably seemed bigger to me because I was small...but still, I think it was pretty large :-), and one of my favorite places there was the strawberry patch!  My mom would never have very many strawberries to harvest, because I would always sneak in there and eat them just as fast as they could grow!  Shhhh, don't tell her though!  :-)

Here are the details of my card...  After stamping the strawberry basket image (from the Strawberries set by Flourishes) using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, I colored it in with my Copics.  The patterned paper is a combination of Farm Fresh and Thrift Shop papers from October Afternoon.  The border punch is Martha Stewart's Modern Garland.  The vellum cardstock is embossed using Tim Holtz's Rays embossing folder (which by the way is on SALE right now!!).

Here's a close up picture so you can see the stamping I did on the cork heart and the sparkles I add to the strawberries!  :-)  Both the Friend and Hello sentiments are also from the Strawberries set.

Well, I'm off to finish up dinner for my kiddos!  (DH is working late tonight...it's haying season.)  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Laurie

 
Stamps:  Strawberries (Flourishes)
Paper:  Cream c.s., Vellum c.s., October Afternoon patterned paper (Farm Fresh and Thrift Shop collections), Cork paper
Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, Antique Linen Distress Ink, Cream Ink
Accessories:  Tag punch and Modern Garland border punch (Martha Stewart), Nestabilities, Rays embossing folder (Tim Holtz), Buttons, Ribbon, String, Copics, Sewing Machine, Rhinestones, Stardust Stickles

July Friends of WaltzingMouse Stamps Blog Waltz...

Hi there!  Today is the Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz and the theme is colors of summer - blue, green, & neutral! 

I had my heart set on using the new Rescue Remedies set, and I needed a little gift for a friend, so I ended up whipping up this little treat box... 

 
I started by creating a quick 2, 5, 7, 10 Box using Early Espresso cardstock.  For the focal image (isn't that label from Rescue Remedies THE cutest label EVER!!?!), I embossed it directly onto patterned paper and then used my Labels 4 Nestabilities to cut it out. 

I created a handle out of cardstock and adhered it securely to the inside of the box.  I really wanted to use ribbon, and tried several different ways unsuccessfully before adding the little ties to the side.  After the box was finished I filled with some mini Hershey bars!  Mmmmm!

Like all the WMS Blog Waltzes, there are prizes to be had!!  :-)  The Design Team members having hidden some little serpent watermarks in their photos.  Some will be well hidden (like mine...hint, hint) and some won't have any at all...it's just part of the fun!  Count up all of the serpent watermarks you see in all of the DT photos (including Claire) and post them in the Blog Waltz forum for a chance to win some shiny new Waltzingmouse Stamps!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Christmas Tag & Holder...

 I'm back today to help wrap up the Stamper's Dream JustRite Christmas Week! 

 
When I first saw the new Holiday Cheer set, I thought the petite size of the images would lend themselves nicely to some tags.  That's when the idea for this project hit me!  I created three different tags, and a packaged them up in a custom holder!  (The holder is just a "card" with a wider spine.) 

I broke out my "Figgy" Basic Grey paper and chose several coordinating patterns for my Tag Holder cover.  I just adore these colors together!!

  
For the inside, I again chose some paper from the "Figgy" Basic Grey pad to dress it up a bit.  The little pocket is 3/4" deep so that it can fit all the embellishments I added to the tags!  {{grin}}

 
This is probably my favorite tag!  These colors just make me happy!!  After stamping my image (also from the Holiday Cheer set), I colored them in with Copics and then used Circle Nestabilities/punches to cut them out.

 
For my second tag, I switched up the layout a bit.  I added some strips under the middle panel and secured them with some messy stitching.  To finish it off, I added a little rhinestone to the center of the snowflake!

 
Three different tags...but they all use the JustRite Holiday Cheer set and the "Figgy" Basic Grey paper!

I have to share with you how I created the tag base!  I wanted something more than just a plain old rectangle, so I started hunting through my Nestabilities to look for something that would make a pretty tag "top".  When I came to my Labels 6 Nesties I found what I was looking for! 

 
After trimming  a piece of cardstock to 3" wide, I wove the die through the cardstock because I only wanted the top of the tag to be cut.
  
This is what it looks like after running through my machine (I use a Cuttlebug).  You can then trim the tags to any length you need (mine are trimmed 4 1/2" long).

Make sure to check out what Christina & Karen have created!  They are both sharing some JustRite projects today as well!  :-)

Thanks for poppin' in today!  I hope your Friday is fabulous!!  ~Laurie

 

Stamps:  Holiday Cheer(JustRite Stampers)
Paper:  Early Espresso (SU!), White c.s., Basic Grey Figgy Collection
Ink:  Distress Inks, Dark Chocolate Memento Ink, Chocolate Chip Craft ink
Accessories:  Clear Detail e.p., Circle and Labels 6 Nestabilities, Circle Punches, Ribbon, Cord, Rhinestones, Buttons, Sewing machine