Just Give Me Stamps...

Gourmet Coffee Drink...

Hi!  Are you enjoying your weekend?  My youngest son is turning four on Monday, but we are having his party tomorrow.  Sooo...we are doing all the "oh my gosh people are coming over so we better clean this place up" stuff!  LOL!  (How is it that even when you're gone the house gets even dirtier??) 

I wanted to quickly come and share a peek of a little project that I have posted over on the Verve Stamps blog for this month's Project Parade Challenge.  The theme is "Home for the Holidays", which can include cards, gifts, or decor.  Since I'm still trying to work my way to the end of my "gifts to make" list, I chose to make a gift.

I re-purposed a tin to hold some homemade gourmet coffee drink mix.  I decorated the top using Verve's O Christmas Tree set.  The blue part of the topper opens up to reveal decorated instructions so the recipient knows just how much mix to add.  

For even more pictures (including pictures of the topper open) and the recipe for the Spanish Mocha gourmet coffee mix, head on over to the Verve Stamps blog!  :-)

Before I go, I want to share a picture I took off of our front porch!  Even though it's not our first snow of the season, it is the first snow that is accompanied with the normal cold Montana winters (the temperature outside when I took this photo was only 2 degrees Fahrenheit!!).

Doesn't it just LOOK cold?  Brrrrr!  :-)

Okay...back to cleaning for me!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  ~Laurie
 
 
 

Joyous Poinsettias...

Happy Thursday!  I'm back with another Christmas card I created for the Penny Black week over at Stamper's Dream!

I departed from the rustic/vintage look and tried my hand at soft and elegant... 

 
  
I pulled out my Banner of Joy clear stamp set by Penny Black.  I just had an itch to make a poinsettia card!  :-)  My mom loves poinsettias, so I plan to give this card to her.  (Mom, if you're reading this, pretend that you didn't just see that....LOL!)  I started by embossing the poinsettia stamp (from the Banner of Joy set) six times onto watercolor paper.  Yep, you read that right...SIX times!  Heehehee!  Okay, it was actually seven, but the "messed up" one doesn't count, right?  :-)  After they were embossed, I quickly used my Tombow markers to watercolor them a bit.  One of the great things about the Tombows is how quickly you can color with them!  So, coloring six of these flowers took very little time (remember, we're not counting the seventh one...Teehehee)!

After they were dry, I cut out three full poinsettias (flower and leaves) and then three flowers (without the leaves) to give them a little "pop".  I mounted them onto some Webster's pages Christmas patterned paper and then embossed the sentiment in the lower right corner.  The embossed white strip on the left was created with one of the Cuttlebug scroll borders.  I think Michelle is out of stock on this particular one, but she does have several other styles...not to mention the brand new Christmas embossing folders (which are one their way to me)!   I added some pearls, ribbon, and a button tied with Copper cording for embellishments.

You can see more Penny Black goodness over at Michelle & Silke's blogs today!  Tomorrow, Amy, Michelle, & Tosh will be sharing even more PB projects!

Thanks for stopping by!  ~Laurie

 
Stamps:  Banner of Joy (Penny Black)
Paper:  Pearlized White c.s., Desert Coral Medium Prism c.s., Webster's Pages Christmas patterned paper
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  Gold/Copper mixed detail e.p., Cuttlebug embossing strip, Ribbon, Copper cording, button, Pearls, Corner rounder, Tombow markers 
 

Penny Black's Antique Santa...

Good morning!  It's Penny Black week at Stamper's Dream and today is my turn to play!  :-)  Penny Black has always had wonderful wood mounted stamps (and clear ones), and now they also have CLING mounted stamps!  Woohooo!!  You get the same "feel" of a regular wood mount, but take up much less room to store!  (Not to mention they cost less!  :-)

My card today uses one of the new cling mount stamps - Penny Black's Antique Santa.  I fell in love with this stamp from the moment I saw it!  There is something slightly Scandinavian about this santa, which I just adore!  He also reminds me of those gorgeous wood carved santas...you know what I'm talking about?  A friend gave me one for Christmas several years ago and it is one of my most treasured Christmas decorations!  Ok...enough babble, on to the card!  Hee! 

I started by embossing the Antique Santa image onto watercolor paper using Onyx Black Versafine ink and Clear Detail embossing powder.  I then watercolored it in using my Tombow markers.  After the image was completely dry, I used one of my Label Eight Nestabilities dies to cut out/emboss the main image.  I mounted it on some Webster's Pages Christmas paper.  For embellishments, I added some Stickles, ribbon with decorative pin, buttons, stitching, & a punched border.

You can see more Penny Black inspiration over at Denise & Michelle's blogs today!  Thursday Michelle, Slike, & I will have more projects to see and on Friday Amy, Michelle, & Tosh will be posting.

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

 
Stamps:  Antique Santa (Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolor paper, Scarlet Jewel (PTI), Webster's Pages Christmas patterned paper
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Antique Linen Distress Ink
Accessories:  Tombow markers, Stickles, Buttons (PTI), Twine, Scarlet Jewel grosgrain ribbon (PTI), Fiskars border punch, Sewing Machine  
 

Lookie What I Found!!

Did you see all the exciting news over at the Waltzingmouse Stamps blog?  Claire released some fabulous new sets...including a TOP SECRET set!!  Ooooh, you have to go and check it out!  :-)

Speaking of top secret...just LOOK at what I found...

Yep!  Those are tags that none other than the Chief Elf himself attaches to special gifts left under the tree on Christmas morning!  I KNOW!  How fun is that!!?!  You can read all about this wonderful secret set HERE...as well as see what some of the other Waltzingmouse Design Team girls have "happened upon"!  :-)

Ok...I'm off to get the kiddos in bed!  I hope you have a wonderful evening!  ~Laurie

 

Quick & Easy Christmas Card...

Happy Monday!  I have a quick and easy Christmas card to share with you!  It's wonderful that it's the 1st part of November and I've already got quite a Christmas card stash!  Woohooo!! 

I'm going to keep this short, because...well, the card is pretty self explanatory!  I used Penny Black's Banner of Joy set combined with some Little Yellow Bicycle patterned paper.  A little bit of silver cording, a punched border, and some red rhinestones and Voila!  :-)

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday!  ~Laurie

 
Stamps:  Banner of Joy(Penny Black)
Paper:  Pure Poppy (PTI), Stamper's Select White (PTI), Patterned paper (Little Yellow Bicycle)
Ink:  Versamark, Red Versamagic Dew Drop
Other:  Clear Detail e.p., Silver e.p., Silver cord, Rhinestones, Scallop border punch
 

Believe...

Woohoo!  It's Friday!!  Time for another one of Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenges!  :-)  I went the Christmas route again...it seems that's all I'm thinking about lately!  AND, we haven't even gotten through Halloween yet!  LOL! 

I combined the Sewing Box Christmas set (Waltzingmouse Stamps) and some rustic Graphic 45 paper to create this slightly non-traditional Christmas card!  For the vertical elements on Beate's sketch (you can see the sketch HERE) I used some Spring Moss ribbon.  A few rhinestones, a punched border, some stitching, a button, and a tag (sentiment is also from the Sewing Box Christmas) and my card was complete!

Did you see all the peeks Claire is sharing over at her blog?  She is getting ready to release three new sets!  SOOO fun!

There is more Weekend Sketch Challenge Inspiration for you!  Check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have created!

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

Stamps:  Sewing Box Christmas (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Paper:  Spring Moss (PTI), Graphic 45 patterned paper
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  Black Detail e.p., Spring Moss grosgrain and Twill (PTI), Circel Nestabilities, Button, Twine, Rhinestones, Diamond Stickles, Apron Lace border punch, Sewing machine

Holly Jolly Christmas...

Note:  Typepad seems to be having technical difficulties...  If you see a red X where the photo of my card should be, try right clicking and then select "show picture".  If that doesn't work, you can try clicking on it...and it should show up in a new window.  Hopefully this will be resolved soon...

Good morning!  Today, I have a quick and easy Christmas card to share with you!  You know what...I just realized something!  My card today uses Kraft cardstock!!  OMGosh...I really need to mix it up a little!  LOL!!  Ok, I promise, the next project I share will not have any Kraft!  Yep, I'm living on the wild side... (teeheheee)

 

I stamped the holly leaves image (from Verve's new Holly Jolly set) onto the kraft c.s. then colored them in with my Copics.  I do love the look of copics on kraft, and I really wanted to draw some more attention to it.  So, I highlighted the leaves using my white gel pen.  I then added a few strips of patterned paper (from My Mind's Eye The Merry Days of Christmas collection), some rhinestones, and an bow.  The ornament (also from Verve's Holly Jolly set) is stamped, colored, cut out, and popped up using foam tape.  I added a little holly to the ornament (there is red Stickles on the holly berries) for a little sumpin' extra.  :-)

If you haven't checked out the Verve store lately, you might want to!  :-)  Julee is having a huge sale:  All Fall and Winter sets are 20% off!! 

Ok, that's all from me today!  I'll be back tomorrow to share what I created for Beate's weekend sketch challenge!  Hugs, Laurie

Stamps:  Holly Jolly Christmas (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Kraft c.s. (PTI), Patterned paper (My Mind's Eye)
Ink:  Rich Cocoa Memento Ink
Accessories:  Copic markers, White gel pen, Rhinestones, Old Olive grosgrain (SU!), Diamond Glaze, Red Stickles, Corner rounder

Weekend Sketch Challenge - Verve Style!

TGIF!!  Or should I say TGIFIM!!  (Translation - thank goodness it's Friday in Missoula)  Yep, that's right!  As this post goes live, I will be in Missoula, Montana visiting my very sweet friend Tosh!  No, Tosh didn't move to Montana (I wish!!), but is here visiting her son so I couldn't possibly not drive a few hours to see her!! 

When I saw Beate's sketch for this week (Weekend Sketch Challenge 103), I thought this gorgeous sentiment from Verve's new Blessed Christmas set would be perfect in the center! 

I used some K & Co. Christmas patterned paper, added a couple flourishes, embellishments, and of course some stitching!  The sentiment (from the Blessed Christmas set) is embossed on Choice Buttercream c.s., and then I used my Copics to add some color.  The Blessed Christmas set will be released tonight (along with 6 other brand new sets)!  Verve is having a release party (complete with lots of giveaways) in the Verve Forum over at Splitcoast at 9 p.m. Eastern Time!

There is always amazing Weekend Sketch inspiration to be seen over at Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon's blogs!

Thanks for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Stamps:  Blessed Christmas (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Choice Buttercream c.s. (TE), Old Olive (Stampin' Up!), Patterned paper (K & Co)
Ink:  Ocean Depths Versamagic Dew Drop, Old Paper Distress Ink,
Accessories:  Copic markers, Nestabilities, Flourish die (Quickutz), Ribbon, Decorative button (Making Memories), Brads, Sewing Machine, Border punch (Martha Stewart)
 

Peace on Earth...

Happy Wednesday to you!  Sneak Peeks started yesterday over at the Verve Stamps Blog!  Yep, it's release time again, and Julee has cooked up 7 Vervealicious new stamps for you!  :-)  Today, the highlight is on the new Blessed Christmas and Star of Wonder sets.

Here is the card I created using the new Star of Wonder set (I looooove this set!!)...

The thing that struck me the most about this set (aside from the gorgeous images and beautifully scripted sentiments) was the simplicity of the the gorgeous stars!  Isn't it amazing that one image can speak so much?  And honestly, the simpler I kept my card, the more impact the star image had.  So that's what I did...kept it simple!  Elegant simplicity that has enough impact to stand alone, and still speaks of the true meaning of Christmas.  Well, I LOVE it!

I embossed the star using Copper e.p. directly onto patterned paper from the Winter's Wings collection by Webster's Pages), and then added a rhinestone in the center.  I roughed up the edges a bit, did some stitching, added a tag, some ribbon, a charm, and a punched border.  That's it!  Very simple and limited layers - perfect for the busy Christmas season!  :-)

Julee is giving away one of the Blessed Christmas and Star of Wonder sets!  For all the details, check out the Verve Blog!

I hope you enjoy your day!  ~Laurie

Stamps:  Star of Wonder (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Choice Buttercream c.s. (Taylored Expressions), Winter's Wings patterned paper (Webster's Pages)
Ink:  Versamark, Antique Linen Distress ink
Accessories:  Copper e.p., Border punch, Sewing machine, Ivory Silk Ribbon, Copper heart charm, Copper cord, Rhinestone 
 

A Western Christmas...

Happy Monday!!  I can officially say that we're {{50 %}} better now!  LOL!  I'll take it though!!  :-)  This flu has been rough, so it feels SO good to be heading back to normal!  Besides a lingering cough, both of my little ones are back to their fun loving, mischief seeking, VERY rambunctious and cute selves!!  My older two will get there soon as they are headed in the right direction!  :-) 

I have a Christmas card to share with you today!  Actually, it's one that I made several weeks ago but am just now getting a chance to share it!

As soon as I saw this Santa Horses stamp (by Impression Obsession) I fell in love!  These horses remind me SOOO much of some of our own, right down to the markings!!  In fact, I have a picture of our blue roan and red roan snuggling up together...except for the Santa hats *giggle*...it looks exactly the same as this stamp!  That picture (of our blue roan and red roan horses) was the inspiration for how I colored this image.  I stamped the image directly onto Kraft cardstock then used my Copics to add some color. 

After I tore and inked up the edges, I layered it on some distressed patterned paper strips.  I then machine stitched the top and bottom as well as hand stitched a little using some Burlap String.  I used that same Burlap String to create a rope tied up with a bow (doesn't every cowboy's rope need a bow??  LOL!) and a charm for embellishment!  The sentiment is from Penny Black's Cyrstalline set.  Lastly, I added some Frosted Lace Stickles to the Santa hats...I just love how it makes them pop!

Well, that's all from me today!  I'm off to bake some cookies!  It's pouring down rain here (I LOVE it), and I think some freshly baked Snickerdoodles would help everyone feel better!  :-)  Hugs, Laurie

 
Stamps:  Santa Horses cling stamp (Impression Obsession), Crystalline (Penny Black)
Paper:  Kraft cardstock, Patterned paper (The Merry Days of Christmas by My Mind's Eye)
Ink:  Rich Cocoa Memento Ink, Chamomile and Chai Tea Vintage Ink (PTI)
Accessories:  Copics, Sewing Machine, Burlap String (May Arts), Paper piercer, Snowflake charm, Frosted Lace Stickles