Just Give Me Stamps...

Wish Big!

Wow!  Two posts in one day!  I'm on a roll, huh?  LOL!  Actually, I made this card yesterday (for the Ways to Use It Challenge) but didn't get a chance to post until now.

When I saw that the Ways to Use It Challenge was to use wire...I knew exactly what I wanted to do!  I thought a stack of cute turtles (from C.C. Designs new Froggie & Friends set) would be the perfect way to wish someone a happy birthday!  :-)

Here's how I stacked the turtles:  I stamped the top one first, then masked it, stamped the one underneath it, then repeated it until I had four turtles.  I used wire as the balloon strings.  For some sparkle, I added Stardust Stickles to the balloons.  I thought the Fall Flowers DP (my all-time favorite Stampin' Up! patterned paper) would be a perfect background for my 'stack o' turtles'. 

I hope you all enjoy your Friday!  We don't have any plans (except making sure my DH doesn't try to sneak out and go to work...I swear, he is incorrigible)!! 

Recipe   Stamps: Froggie & Friends (CC Designs), Short & Sweet, Oval shadow (A Muse)   Paper: Papertrey white, Soft Sky, Old Olive, Fall Flowers DP   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Old Olive   Other: Copic markers, Wire, Brads, Soft Sky dbl. stitched ribbon, Stardust Stickles, Thread

Woooo Hooooo!

It's the 20th again...and that means it's time for another Dirty Dozen/Alumni Challenge over at Splitcoast!  This month's challenge is to use an owl image...incorporate texture...but we can't use any rhinestones, crystals, or Dew Drops.  Now, I know what you are thinking...."How in the world can she NOT use any rhinestones or Dew Drops"??  Well, it was tough!!  LOL!

I  used today's Color Challenge colors (Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Certainly Celery) on this card.  The owl and polka dot background is from C.C. Designs (available at All That Scraps).  I chose various ribbons, buttons, & Stickles as my texture.

This was the first card I made...but I was feeling guilty that I didn't actually stamp my owl, so I made another one!  LOL!  I found this owl pendant at Micheal's.  The handmade paper is some that I had in my "stash".  The sentiment is from Hero Art's "Thinking of You" set and the ribbon is from May Arts.  Both the ribbon and Thinking of You set is available from Stamper's Dream.

Click HERE if you would like to check out all of the Owl Challenge cards.

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Whooooo Loves You?

Gasp!  It's Tuesday already!!  We have been sooo busy here!  My brother flew in from Portland last week to help pack my mom's house up.  It's been wonderful to see him again (we don't get to see him nearly enough)...but it's also been an emotionally and physically draining time.  We said our goodbyes to my mom today, which wasn't very easy to do.  From the time I was pregnant with our first child (she's twelve now) she has lived near us.  On the bright side, we will get to go and visit her in Portland two to three times a year!  I LOVE Portland...actually I love the whole Northwest...and miss it terribly!

   

Some stamping "therapy" was just what I needed!  Even though this was a super fast card to make, I love the results!  (It might have something to do with me adoring Monochromatic cards...hehehee!)

This sweet owl is from C.C. Design's new set "A Hootin' Good Time", which is available from All That Scraps.  **Note:  The finished size of this card is 3 1/8" x 6 1/2"

Before I wrap this up...I have to share this funny story with you!  We were sitting at the dinner table the other night, and my kids brought up Mother's Day.  My DH rarely gets to town to do any shopping...so the kids were bugging him to take them in so they could look in some stores.  I KNEW this was my opportunity, so I smiled very sweetly...and said, "Oh, don't worry about getting me something...I know exactly what I want and I can order it for you"!  I then told them that I wanted the Copic Airbrush Kit!  Up until now, my husband was only half way paying attention...and mostly interested in what was for dessert!  LOL!  Well, his eyes lit up and he said, "to Trick your Truck"?  My husband and nine year old son love to watch the show Trick my Truck together.  Jared (my nine year old) replies, "No, Dad...to Trick her Cards"!! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe   Stamps: A Hootin' Good Time (C.C. Designs)   Paper: Ivory Naturals, Kraft, Always Artichoke   Ink: Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke   Other: Heart brad, Gingham ribbon, Vanilla taffeta ribbon, Cutter Kit (to distress the c.s.), Paper piercer

It's All About the Presents...

Whew!  I finally have some time to share with you what I made with my brand new stamps I received the other day!!  Remember the bronchial stuff I had several weeks ago?  Well, now three of my kids have it.  I really think that seeing your kids sick...and not being able to do anything about it...is really one of the hardest things for me as a mom.  On the bright side...I've gotten lots of "cuddle" time with my younger ones...and lots of story time as well! 

All That Scraps is releasing five brand new C.C. Designs sets Friday morning at 12:01 A.M.!  Here's a little peek at the Happy Birthday set...

    

Lucky is back...and he is surrounded with presents!!   

I stamped Lucky in Adirondack Pitch Black ink and colored him in with Copics.  I went back over and highlighted some of the images with some Copic Spica Atyou Glitter Pens (see closeup picture below) for just a little bit of sparkle!  Speaking of sparkle...hehehehe....I embossed the sentiment using Iridescent Ice embossing powder.

As you all know by now...I love to add vellum to my cards...especially using it to "soften" patterned paper!  I wanted the vellum to stand out a little more, so I stitched around the edges.  I wanted the layer behind Lucky to look like a present..so I added some ribbon and a "bow" at the top.

Here's a close up picture so you can see all the sparkle!  :-)

To see more Sneak Peeks of this Happy Birthday set, make sure to check out the All That Scraps blog on Thursday!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Happy Birthday, Big Ol' Backgrounds - Polka Dots (CC Designs)   Paper: Stamper's Select White, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Really Rust, Vellum c.s., Patterned paper by Sassafras Lass (available from All That Scraps)   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Versamark, Really Rust, Pretty in Pink   Other: Iridescent Ice e.p., Pink brads, Decorative snap, Copic markers, Spica Glitter pens, Sewing Machine

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

This Hug's For You...

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a good weekend!  Well, not only did I get that nap I was hoping for...I got 2  more as well!!  LOL!  Every time I put my little ones down for a nap, I took one too!  I think I am now completely caught up on all that sleep I missed out on the last several weeks.  Woohooo!  It's just amazing what getting some sleep can do for the energy level!!  Heheee!  Not only did I get all my chores done this morning, lunch and dinner made, helped my DH, & baked some goodies...but I found some time to stamp!  Yay!

 

The technique Challenge today was to combine two or more different patterned papers together.  I LOVE to do this...so I couldn't resist playing along!

I stamped this adorable monkey (from the CC Designs set Monkey Love available from All That Scraps) onto watercolor paper using Palette Burnt Umber ink.  I then colored him in using Prismacolor Pencils and blending it with Baby Oil.

After using my Circle Nestabilities to cut/emboss the circles, I sponged all of the edges with Antique Linen Distress ink.  I punched out a 1/2" circle of the patterned paper (the same pattern as I used for the bottom layer) and put that in a Brass Build-A-Brad.  The Brown textured ribbon is some I got from Jody (TexasJodyLynn) during one of her ribbon shares.  The peach-ish ribbon with brown edges is from Martha Stewart's line.

This card will be going to a good friend of mine...who just LOVES monkeys!!!!  I can't wait for her to get it!!!

It's been so long since I've participated in a Color Challenge...but I'm planning on it tomorrow!  Woohoo!  I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamp:  Monkey Love (CC Designs)   Paper: K & Co Patterned paper, Watercolor paper, Close to Cocoa   Ink: Palette Burnt Umber   Other: Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil, Brass Build-A-Brad, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Corner Rounder punch, Paper piercer

Dog Gone Cute...

Happy Saturday!  I hope you all are having a good weekend!  The stomach flu has come to visit at our house.... YUCK!  Thankfully it seems to be short lived.  My DH took pity on me when he got home, and took over holding the kiddos....and I got to get away to my stamp room!

 

I can't seem to put down my Love Ya Much set from CC Designs!  I stamped Lucky onto watercolor paper with Palette (Burnt Umber) ink and watercolored him using my Classic ink pads.

I used my circle Nestabilities to create the different sized circles.  Using Linen Thread, I hand stitched some accents and then tied the circle with the sentiment (to kind of look like a "dog tag") to the card.  Finally, I added a couple of Dew Drops to help balance it out a little.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Love Ya Much (CC Designs)   Paper: Watercolor paper, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, My Mind's Eye Signature Series DP   Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, Sahara Sand   Other: Circle Nestabilities, Dew Drops (Men), Eyelet, Linen Thread

My Little Funny Bunny...

Today is the release date of the two new CC Designs sets Love Ya Much, & Love Ya Lots (available from All That Scraps)!  They are sooo cute!

I started by stamping this sweet bunny onto white cardstock and coloring him with my copic markers.  I then cut him out and glued him on a piece of vellum that I had backed with a piece of patterned paper (the same pattern as the background).  I then used my *new* Janome Sew Mini machine (a Christmas present from my DH) to stitch around the edges.  The bunny's tail has liquid appliqué on it (because aren't all bunny's tails fluffy?) and I added a little sparkle around the edges of the bunny.

I hope you all have an amazing weekend!

~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Love Ya Much   Paper: Vellum c.s., White c.s., Apricot Appeal, Hey Sugar patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Versamagic Dew Drop   Other: Copic markers, Clear e.p., Prima flower, Narrow organdy ribbon, Paper piercer, Liquid Appliqué

'Tweetheart'...

Happy Saturday!!  I'm a little late in posting today...it's just amazing how fast the time goes by!  We are all trying as hard as we can (LOL!!) to enjoy what's left of our Christmas school break! 

I wanted to share this card that I made with the new C.C. Designs stamps.  This set (Love Ya Much) along with the other new set (Love Ya Lots) will be available at All That Scraps on January 4th!

I will be back soon to post the winner of the free Verve stamps!!

~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Love Ya Much (C.C. Designs)   Paper: Papertrey white, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Vellum c.s., Lily Kate & Romani DP from Basic Grey   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Ballet Blue Stampin' Write marker   Other: Copic markers, Stickles, Spica glitter pens, Ticket corner punch, Corner rounder, Paper piercer, Bashful Blue grosgrain and gingham ribbons, Clear Dew Drops