Just Give Me Stamps...

April Friends of Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz...

 

Hi there!  It's the 17th of the month, and that means it is time for another Friends of Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz!  Every month, Claire posts a new theme in the Waltzingmouse Forum (this month's theme is Easter) and invites everyone to play along!  For all the deets on how to play along, check out Claire's Blog!

Here's what I came up with...

For my card, I used the Waltzingmouse Spring Baskets and Very Vintage Labels No. 18 sets.  I chose some soft and girly colors for my Easter card (who doesn't love pastel Easter colors??)!

Want to see more Waltzingmouse Easter inspiration?  Check out the April Blog Waltz link list HERE!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Hugs, Laurie

Stamps:  Spring Baskets, Very Vintage Labels No. 18 (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Paper:  White, Blusing Bride (SU!)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, Certainly Celery (SU!)
Accessories: Labels No. 18 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Pink pom-pom trim, Ribbon, Butterfly pin (Webster's Pages), Buttons, Copic markers, Mini rhinestone, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Spring Baskets...

 Happy Monday!  Today is the fourth and final day of the Waltzingmouse Stamp of Approval Parade (April SOAP)! 

Before I share my project with you, I want to give a HUGE welcome to the newest Waltzingmouse Design Team members:  Kate Whelan, Niki Estes, and Tosha Leyendekker!!  You really have got to go check out their blogs...such TALENT!!

Today the DT is rewinding a bit, and featuring an older set called Spring Baskets.  This set may be considered older, but the images and sentiments are as fresh and lovely as a warm, Spring day!

I combined the pretty daffodil image (from Spring Baskets) with one of the lovely frames from Very Vintage Labels No. 18!  So that the flowers would stand out a bit more (and to keep with the soft pastel theme), I added some vellum over the patterned paper.  Just try to ignore my not so straight stitching, o.k.?  Normally, I am the ultimate perfectionist...and would re-make anything that wasn't straight, but I actually did not catch my horrible stitching until after my photo was taken!  GASP!!!  My daughter laughs at my inability to let things like this slide.  Well, probably before the day is through, I will re-make this card!  LOL!

We hope that you have enjoyed, and have been inspired, the past few days from our Stamp of Approval Parade; highlighting last month’s sets and our beloved Spring Baskets set! Now it’s time for you to get your craftiness on as we invite you to participate in a CASE (Copy and Share Everything) competition!

Find a card or project from any of the projects posted over the past few days by the WMS Design Team, CASE that project using Waltzingmouse Stamp images, and link it using the Inlinkz on Claire’s blog at http://waltzingmouse.blogspot.com/. At the end of the competition, one project will be randomly selected to be highlighted with a Parade of its own on several of the Design Team blogs.

We hope you will enjoy this competition and that it will inspire you be creative!  You have one week to complete and link your project as the competition will close at 8:00 AM Claire’s time on April 10th, which is 3 AM Eastern, 2 AM Central, 1 AM Mountain, and Midnight, Pacific time.  The winner will be announced on Claire’s blog on April 11th.

Ready to see some more Spring Baskets inspiration?  Check out what these ladies have created:

• Anya Schrier
• Belinda Chang Langner
• Bonnie Sharp
• Carly Robertson
• Claire Brennan
• Jennifer Holmes
• Julia Aston
• Kate Whelan
• Laurie Schmidlin
• Lynn Mercurio
• Mona Pendleton
• Niki Estes 
• Sandie Dunne
• Sarah Martina Parker
• Tosha Leyendekker

I'm so glad you've stopped by today!  I hope your day is a wonderful one!  ~Laurie

Think Spring...

Good morning!  Today marks the first day in the March Diva Dare, happening right now over at the Verve Blog!  Following every Verve release, the Divas will post a challenge that we will dare you with!  If you accept that dare...well, lets just say there might be NEW VERVE GOODIES in your future!  You can double your chances of winning by leaving comments on each Diva's post during the two week challenge as well!  For all the details, check out the Verve Blog!

 

This is how I answered the dare!  My rainbow loving mind immediately associated Spring with...you guess it - rainbows!  LOL!  I do love me some rainbow colors!  :-)  Because I wanted a softer card, I chose pastel colors to complete my rainbow.  Now, I realize that I left orange out.  It's not that I have a personal vendetta against that color (I used to, but as of late I've become very fond of orange)...it just didn't fit on this particular card.  As you can see from my last post (the cracked Easter Egg card), I did show orange some proper love.  :-)

After I had my pastel colors all glued down in a row (happy sigh...), I embossed the flowers (from the new Chicks Rule set) in white and then added some coordinating rhinestones to their centers.  For the tag, I first embossed the Think Spring sentiment (from the new Egg-stra Special set) and then cut it out using the new Charming Oval Die!

You want to know something ironic?  It is SNOWING here in Montana right now!  I mean, coming down like nobody's business!  LOL!!!  I definitely need to surround myself with pretty Spring colors, don't you think?  :-)

Well, my Monday laundry pile is waiting for me!  LOL!  I hope you have a GREAT day!!  ~Laurie

One of My Favorite Peeps...

Happy Sunday!  Were you able to make it to the Verve Release Party?  It is always so fun to chat with other Verve fans!

In cast you missed it, there is an After Party going on over at the Verve Blog today!  Not only is there a LOT of Verve inspiration (each of the Designer's favorite March project), but some info on the fabulous SALES going on right now!!

  

My favorite project is this fun little egg card I created using my Oval Nestabilities and the new Chicks Rule set!

 

Eeeek!  How cute is that chick!!!?!  She just makes me smile! 

As you can see from the photo above, I cut out two ovals from two different patterned paper pieces (My Mind's eye).  On the top one, I hand cut a zig-zag line down the middle...like a broken egg might have.  I glued the bottom part of the broken shell piece and then adhered the top with a brad so that it could swing open.

   

Here's a close up of my Copic colored image.  The chick, flower, and star wand are all from the new Chicks Rule set.

  

And here's a photo of the inside of the card.  I used one size smaller of Oval die to create my card base.  The sentiment (also from the Chicks Rule set) is embossed on even more coordinating My Mind's Eye patterned paper.

Well that's all from me today!  We actually have a VERY fun day ahead of us!  Today my sweet daughter turns 15!  We have so much to celebrate!!  I promise to post pictures just as soon as I can!  :-)

Hugs, Laurie

Stamps: Chicks Rule
Paper: Choice Buttercream (TE), Stella and Rose Mabel Collection (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Chocolate Chip craft ink (SU!), Chamomile Vintage Ink (PTI), Rich Cocoa Memento Ink
Accessories: Copic markers, Oval Nestabilities, Brad, Prima Flower, Button string, Stardust Stickles, Rhinestone

Hola Chica!

 A great big happy Friday to you!!  Today is the final Verve new set spotlight!  You are going to just LOVE the new sets and dies!!  Don't worry, you don't have to wait long to see them!  The release party is tonight (9 pm Eastern) and not only will the sets be revealed...but so will all the winners!  Sure hope you can join us!

In the meantime, Let's Go to the HOP!!!  All the cats and CHICKS can get their kicks at the hop!  And today we're kicking off the first peeks at a set called Chicks Rule, a whimsical set for all the chicks in your life!  The Divas are also debuting the Flutterby Die today, which coordinates with the butterfly from this fun set.  And you guessed it... there's a prize hidden on one of today's hop spots, so leave a little shout-out in the comments as you hop about for a chance to win some new Vervey goodness!  But you better hurry, the deadline for commenting is tonight at 6pm Mountain!  Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and to meet the three Chicklets debuting in this set.

Eeeek!!!  Don't you just love that little chick!!?!?  I decided to add him to a larger basket...filled with chocolate no less!  I used a template I found online and my brand new cricut (woohooo!) to create this fun basket...complete with picket fence!  I thought it was the perfect background for the fun and sweet chick!

I colored both the chick and basket (both from the new Chicks Rule set) using my copics, cut it out, then popped it up on the front of the basket using dimensional foam. 

 

I embossed the butterfly (also included in the new Chicks Rule set) several times on vellum cardstock.  I then used the NEW Flutterby Die (YAY!!) to quickly cut them out!  I then added a rhinestone to the center of each of them.

Here's the little card I created to go with the Easter basket.  I started with a 4" square card base and then added patterned paper and a leftover piece of picket fence (from an earlier basket I made).  I wanted those sweet butterflies (from Chicks Rule) to take center stage!  The sentiment was embossed and then cut out using the new Charming Banners die!  SO fun!!

Ready to hop some more?  :-)  Here's the master hop list...

1. Maureen 7. Sankari 2. Amy 8. Tosh 3. Amber 9. Julee 4. Janelle 10. Andrea 5. Teresa 11. Charmaine 6. Laurie

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  ~Laurie

Stamps:  Chicks Rule (Verve)
Paper:  White c.s., Vellum c.s., Lovely Lilac (SU!), Patterned paper (Chatterbox)
Ink:  Versamark, Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, White Craft Ink (SU!)
Accessories:  Copic markers, White embossing powder, Flutterby Die, Charming Banners die, Martha Sewart border punch, Rhinestones, Stardust Stickles, Large eyelets, Ribbon, Flower, Spring Basket svg Template (A Perfect Presentation)

Easter Blessings...

Welcome to day 2 of the Verve new set spotlights! 

You are in for such a treat this release!  Fun, whimsical designs all with a touch of the classic Verve elegance!

All of the new set spotlights lead up to the release tomorrow night!  We will be celebrating and chatting it up over at the Verve forum (Friday night at 9 pm Eastern)!

My card today features the soon to be released Egg-stra Special stamp set along with the Charming Oval die!  New stamps...AND new dies...does it get any better than that?  :-)

Just like yesterday's new set spotlight...there are prizes to be had!  One lucky commenter will win what is being spotlighted today!  Winner will be chosen randomly from one of the participating DT blogs.  Comments need to be received by Friday night at 6 pm Mountain and winners will be announced tomorrow night at the Release Party!! 

There is SO much more Egg-stra Special inspiration in store for you!  :-) 

1. Laurie 7. Julee 2. Charmaine 8. Sankari 3. Jackie 9. Janelle 4. Amber 10. Maureen 5. Tosh 11. Teresa 6. Andrea 12. Amy

I'm so glad you stopped by today!  I hope you have a wonderful day!  ~Laurie

Chocolate Bunnies...

Happy Thursday!  Can you believe the week is almost over?  GASP!  I guess time flies when you're doing taxes....sigh...  :-)  Actually, I finished all that I could do, but we've been all under the weather here (in more ways than one! :-).  We've gotten quite a bit of snow lately (18 inches over the last several days) as well as fighting off some virus that has been making the rounds in our community...  But I'm sure we'll all be back to normal soon!

It's my day to share what I've created for the March Project Parade over at the Verve Stamps Blog!  I used the new Chocolate Bunnies set to create a simple (and very chocolatey :-) gift set! 

 

To see pictures of each individual item (and to see the inside of the card, please check out the post on the Verve blog HERE.  As with all the project parades...there are prizes to be had!  :-)  But this project parade they are giving away extra prizes...five random commenters (on the Verve blog) will win a free Verve set of their choice!

I will definitely try to get back into my stamp room soon!  Hope you have a wonderful day!  ~Laurie