Just Give Me Stamps...

An Extreme Blog Makeover...

Good morning!  Have you noticed anything different?  :-)  For those of you reading on an update reader (like Google Reader), click on over to see my new digs!  I am grinning from ear to ear (seriously...I can't stop smiling)!  I have just had a major blog overhaul and I could not be any happier! 

Several weeks ago, I decided it was time to change up my blog.  I wanted a wider column, cleaner sidebars, & subtle yet fresh colors with just a hint of a modern feel!  Not much, huh?  LOL!

I have to tell you, finding a designer that will work on typepad blogs is almost IMPOSSIBLE!  It's true!  For those of you that have Blogger or Wordpress platforms, there are so many choices out there!  I not only needed someone that would be willing to take Typepad on, but also I wanted to LOVE their designs!  I can truly say that I found that and more!

Tiffany, from Tiffany Kuel Designs, was a dream to work with!  She is an amazing designer, and she is FAST!  I love that!  For those of you that know me personally, know that I can be pretty vague in my descriptions.  I mean, I know what's in my head...I just don't always know how to express it!  LOL!  I did have a pretty good idea of how I wanted my banner to look and the overall "feel" of my blog but Tiffany was able to take those vague ideas and turn them into exactly what I wanted!

Here is the sketch of my banner that I emailed to her.  Yeah, I know.  I can't draw.  That's why I stamp!  LOL!

 

And here is the color palette that I chose!  I love them!!  Tiffany has a great pintrest site with LOTS of colors, and we pulled these colors from a couple of different photos. 

 

Thanks for letting me share my excitement with you!

Hugs, Laurie

Just Give Me Candy - Day 2!!

Hi again!  I'm back with even more goodies to give away!!  Yaaay!  :-)

Pictured above is package of Artisan Elements Swirls (these things are SOOO fun!!), Labels Sixteen Nestabilities, and a Jack & Jil (from Prima) 6 x 6 paper pad!  Combined, these are over $34 worth of papercrafting goodness!!  Woohooo!!

Here are a few easy rules...

• Only one comment per person, please!
• All entries need to received by Midnight (MST) on Monday, January 3rd
• **Optional**  Tell me about your new favorite board/card game!  Our family is looking for more fun games to try in the New Year!  :-)

If you've stopped by to see something stamped...I promise I will have LOTS of new things for you to see later this week!  :-)

Have a great day!

~Laurie

Just Give Me Candy (Blog Candy, That Is), Day One!!!

Hello friends!!  I'm back today with the first day of my "Just Give Me Candy" giveaway!!  I have a few "extra" supplies and I thought what better way to start the new year than sharing it with you!?!!  :-)

Pictured above:  Round & Round stamp set by Papertrey Ink (set of 24 2010 Limited Edition), Spiral Binding punch by Stampin' Up!, & Labels Four Nestabilities

All you need to do to be entered to win is leave a comment here on this post before Monday at Midnight (MST)!  Easy peasy!!  I will choose a winner Tuesday, January 4th!

Here a few *teeny tiny* rules...

• Only one comment per person, please!  :-)
• Comments need to be received by Midnight on Monday (January 4th)
• ((OPTIONAL))  Tell me about one of your favorite New Year's Tradition

To start things off, I will share one of my family's New Year's traditions.  To incorporate some of my DH's Swiss heritage, we like to have either a traditional Swiss cheese fondue or a Raclette.  Raclette is a specific cheese (soooooooooooooo yummy!!!) and is cooked in a little electric griddle/oven that sits on the table.  It is served with thinly sliced meats (that can be cooked on the the top grill part ofthe Raclette oven), new potatoes, veggies, and a variety of sauces. 

   

Here's a picture of what a Raclette oven looks like.  Ours is a bit different, but the concept is the same.  :-)  Mmmmm, I'm hungry just thinking about it!

Have a happy & safe New Year!!

Hugs,
Laurie

Retired & Current Stampin' Up! Stamps FOR SALE!!

Whew!!!  I just listed 151 Stampin' Up! stamp sets (some current and some retired), punches, and even some Ink Pads for sale!!  I always put this off because it is SO much work!  LOL!  I just can't stand to see these stamps not being used though...they deserve a good home!  :-)  I also was waiting to fix my email issues before I tackled this, but now that it's working I'm good to go!

This is an all new list...ones that I haven't listed before!   I have added the For Sale page on my left sidebar under the "Pages" heading, or you can click HERE to see my list!

One thing that has happened in the past is people email me asking if I have such and such set still available.  I email them back and say yes...but then don't hear from them.  That's not a big deal...but I have decided that I can't hold sets (put them down as pending) unless I have heard back from you.

Okay...I'm back to finish up answering emails (I'm still working through that one...there were a lot that I missed)!  I have them in a separate folder and am slowly making my way!  :-)  Hope you enjoy your evening!  ~Laurie

Extreme Blog Makeover!!

Wooohooo!!  Check out my new "digs"!!  I am over the moon excited...I just love it!  I still have a little rearranging to do...and I plan on "finally" updating my blog roll, but I couldn't be happier with how this all turned out! 

A HUGE thank you to Veronica (from VK Deisign Company) for all her hard work!  She is extremely talented, so fun to work with, and I think she might be part mind reader!!  LOL!  Seriously, I wasn't able to articulate very well what I wanted but had vague ideas.  Not only did she give me exactly what I wanted, but did it in record time!  Thank you SO much, Veronica!!

I emailed her the below photo of a coffee cup (one I picked up in Seattle - LOVE that place :-) and told her that I didn't necessarily want the image on the cup (even though it IS gorgeous), but I wanted more the "feel" the cup has!  I know, I know...could I be any more specific?!!?  LOL!! 

Anyway, I just wanted to share how excited I am!!  :-)  ~Laurie

Several Things to Share...

Happy Tuesday!  I have several things to share with you today.  First, I wanted to share this picture I took yesterday of our three puppies.  One of our dogs had puppies a couple of months ago...and we've always known that we were going to keep one and give the rest away.  Well, as these guys grow(well, actually they are all girls...heheheee), the thought of parting with any of them is pretty tough.  (I think I have my husband almostconvinced that we should keep them and not give them away :-).  They are SO much fun to watch while they play.   They are so full of life (and mischief)...and the day that I took this picture, they were especially rambunctious!  They were running, playing, tearing up anything that the kids might have left outside, play fighting, & yapping at the wind all morning...so come afternoon they were wiped out!  When I saw them all cuddled up together, I just had to take a picture!  We affectionately call them the Three Musketeers!

This first card is one that I made for today's color challenge over at Splitcoast (Baja Breeze, Really Rust, & Chocolate Chip).  Well, fall colors are some of my favorite, so I just had to play along!  I stamped this Pumpkins in Moonlight stamp by Penny Black with Versamark ink.  I then used my chalks to color the image in...I just love the softness of it!  I then mounted it on some Memory Box patterned paper (from the Twiggy Collection).  I then added some twill, a decorative brad, piercings, and some stitching for the finishing touches.

 

It seems like so many of my friends are going through some difficult things, so I am in need of quite a few "thinking of  you" type of cards.  So, I put this next card together rather quickly, but I'm pleased with the result!  I started by picking my paper (I chose these two patterns from Chatterbox) and pulled my colors from them.  I embossed this bird and vine (from Inkadinkado's Birds Galore set) onto Neenah Solar White c.s. and used my oval Nestabilities to create the layered and scalloped ovals.  I added some mini white Prima flowers with some Blush colored pearls to the vine...along with some piercings around the edge of the oval.  Next to the Thinking of You sentiment (from Hero Art's Thinking of You set), I added some more of the Blush pearls (they are sooooo pretty in real life!!!).  That's it...very simple!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!  ~Laurie

Beautiful RAK From Tosha...

Happy Thursday!  I hope you all are enjoying your week! 

Look at this beautiful RAK I received from my friend Tosha!!  Remember the post I did a couple of weeks ago where I mentioned how much I loved the warm, rich colors of this card?  Well...it showed up in my mailbox a week later!!!  How incredibly lucky am I??  :-)  You can check out more of her beautiful creations at Stamp Talk With Tosh!

Make sure to check back tomorrow...it's time for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge!

Have a great day!  ~Laurie

Just a Quick Update...

Good Morning!  First, I want to thank you all for the amazing response to the Retired Stamps that I have for sale!  Wow!!  All items that have been paid for (as of Wed. morning) will be shipped today!  I will be taking them to town with me today (also..I won't be available to answer emails until later this afternoon).

I have something really fun to show you...but it will have to wait until this afternoon, so make sure to check back later!  :-)

Have a great day!  ~Laurie

Retired Sets For Sale!

I have finally finished typing up ALL of the stamp sets that I have for sale!  It was NOT an easy task, let me tell you!  LOL!!!!  I can't even remember the last time I cleared out my retired stuff....  Before you go and take a peek...let me just tell you that I've been a Stampin' Up! demo for 11 1/2 years now...so I have naturally acquired a LOT of stamps!! O.k...that might be an understatement....

If you look to the left (just under where you sign up for email updates), you will see a new link added.  It's called For Sale! and will take you to another page where everything is listed.  Or you can access it HERE.  If you are interested in some of the stamps, please email me rather than just leaving a comment. 

Thanks!!  ~Laurie

Splitcoast Needs Your Help!

You all probably know this about me already...but I LOVE Splitcoast Stampers!  It has provided me with SO much inspiration, the opportunity to grow as a stamper, & I've met some of the most caring and generous people along the way!

As if the site isn't already THE BOMB...they are looking for YOUR input on how to improve!  There is a short survey that they are asking members to take.  I finished the survey last night, so I can tell you first hand that it is indeed short and will only take a couple of minutes.  This is your chance to tell them how you feel!

Click HERE to take the survey!