Just Give Me Stamps...

Beaded Flowers...

Happy Wednesday!!  It's the 20th of February (can you believe that???)...and that means it's time for another Dirty Girl Challenge!  Woohoo!  This month's challenge was to use a stamp designed by a Dirty Dozen/Alumni....with what we perceive to be Springy colors...without using any Die cut/Embossing machine.

I chose to use this Blossoms stamp...which was designed by Anna Wight (SweetMissDaisy), matted on a background stamped with the Pretty Pattern Backgrounder...which was designed by Lisa Strahl (Mona Lisa).  The colors I chose are Certainly Celery and Real Red (with lots of white).  Red is a color that I associate with Spring...it is so happy and bright...I LOVE it!!  :-)  Even though I desperately wanted to...I did not use my Nestabilities!  Heehee!

I stamped the Blossoms onto Papertrey White using Adirondack Pitch Black ink.  I then colored them in a little using my Copic markers.  Because I am SO NOT as good a watercolorer as Anna (waaaay outta my league :-) I thought I would add some Red Microbeads to my flowers as highlights.  To do that...I applied some Diamond Glaze (very similar to Crystal Effects..but not as "cloudy") just to the area I wanted to "highlight" and then sprinkled on my Real Red Microbeads.  If you want to try this...make sure you are pouring these Microbeads over a Powder Pals tray (what I use) or at least a large pre folded paper so that you can pour the unused beads back into their container.  Last...I added the details:  folded down corner, sentiment (which I punched out with the Sm. Oval punch), Dew drops, some roughed up edges, & a bit of stitching.

Here is a closeup of the flowers....so you can see the beads better.  I'm going to have to try this more often!!  It definitely distracts the eye away from the mediocre coloring AND adds some dimension!!  Woohoo!  :-)

To see what all of the other Dirty Girls came up with, check out this Splitcoast Gallery!  I hope you all have a great day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Blossoms (Whipper Snapper), Pretty Pattern Backgrounder (CHF), All Holidays   Paper: Whisper White, Papertrey White, Certainly Celery, Real Red   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Certainly Celery, Real Red   Other: Sm. Oval punch, Sewing Machine, Copic Markers, Diamond Glaze, Real Red Microbeads, Thread, Dew Drops

Where's The Sweet? (Before & After)

Happy Sunday!  We got a bunch of snow last night and today...so I've been busy helping DH to shovel/plow our way out.  The drifts are probably the worst thing about this storm...some are taller than my four year old!  :-)  It was fun watching him play out there...hehehee!  So...I haven't finished the pencil holder template that I was going to share today...but I will share that tomorrow.  I DO have some cards to show you, though!

On the 20th of each month, the past and present "Dirty Girls" have a themed challenge.  This month, we were to make a non-standard sized *sweet* card with a girl (young or old) as the main focus!  Well, I need to read the guidelines better, because I had my cards all ready to go...but they were standard A2 size cards!  After realizing that...I re-did both of them.

I know what you're probably thinking... "what is *sweet* about this card"?  Well, there is actually a funny story behind these cards!  I am SOOO not a morning person!  My DH, however, is quite the morning person.  He thinks it hilarious that I don't want to talk...much less even look at anyone in the morning, and teases me about it frequently.  (BTW..this does NOT help to cheer me up...LOL!)  There is rarely a morning that goes by that he doesn't call me "Sweetheart" while he chuckles (and I grumble)...LOL!  After a cup or two of coffee, I am very social and back to my normal "chatty" self.

For this card, I used my Creative Memories oval cutting system to create an oval shaped card.  I used my Nestabilities to cut out an oval in the front of the card.  The image is actually on the inside of the card.  I colored the image with my Copic markers.

Here's a peek at the inside.

Wow!  What a difference a cup of java makes, huh!  LOL! 

This card is a 4 1/5" square.  I used my Spica glitter pens to outline the clothes, boots and added some gold "highlights" to the hair!  To finish it off, I added some Stardust Stickles to the cape.

You can see everyone's challenge cards HERE.

Well, my kids are all looking at me...waiting for me to make some dinner.  :-)  Enjoy your day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Stamping Bellas, Amazing to Zany   Paper: Papertrey White, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Mint Melody, Wild Wasabi, K & Co patterned paper   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Sage Shadow   Other: Copic markers, Stickles, Spica glitter pens, Dew Drops, Eyelet, Ribbon, Primas, Rhinestone brad, Corner rounder, Creative Memories oval cutting system, Paper piercer, Nestabilities

Party Penguin...

Good morning!  Today is the day that the Dirty Dozen/Dirty Dozen Alumni are posting their cards for the monthly challenge.  This month's challenge was to include penguins and anything with "ice" but NOT to use any blue.

I know...my paper looks kind of blue-ish in the photo...but I promise it's a greenish/teal in real life!  For the "ice" I made a little ice under the penguin using Frosted Lace Stickles.

Sorry for the short post...I need to head out the door (actually should have 10 minutes ago)!

Make sure  you check out the SCS gallery to see what everyone else came up with!!  Here is the link to the GALLERY.  Have a wonderful day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Memory Box Penguin, Everyday Flexible Phrases   Paper: Papertrey White, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, DP   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Chocolate Chip   Other: Copics, Word Window Punch, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Stickles, Fibers

Oh, Fluffles!

First, I want to really thank everyone for the kind comments and emails!!  You guys really are the best!!  While I was visiting my mom last night, the Dr. came in to chat with my brother and I.  They now have a diagnosis and are already treating her for it.  I have to say how amazed I am at just what/how the medical community can do what they do!  If all goes as planned, the infection should be under control in a couple of days and she can actually come home!  Thank you again, for all your prayers and kind words!

When I saw some of these Fluffles stamps a couple of months ago...I just knew I had to have some!!!  I was completely smitten with this mischievous yet totally hilarious cat!

I stamped Fluffles in Black Brilliance ink onto Papertrey white c.s. and colored him with my Copic Sketch markers.  It's almost impossible to see this in the picture, but I traced all the frostings with my Clear Spica Atyou glitter pen.  I added red Stickles to the candy cane and "popped" it up for extra dimension.

I hope you all have a great day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Fluffles (Stampendous!)   Paper: Papertrey white, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Patterned paper by K & Co.   Ink: Black Brilliance   Other: Copic Sketch markers, Copic Atyou glitter pen, Red Stickles, Rhinestones, Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Red fibers

Jami's Dirty Girl Challenge...

I was just about to type "Good Morning" but quickly glanced at the clock and realized that there isn't much morning left!  Man, how time flies when you're chasing after a busy, busy two year old!!!  I will post the winner of the "Just Give Me The Goodies" after I finish this post.  

    Sorry to make you wait!

Jami (from SCS) has issued a Dirty Girl (past & present) Challenge.  The 'guidelines' of the challenge are as follows:

• Use A Winter Song (by Elzybells)
• Use the color Pretty in Pink
• DON'T use patterned paper (GASP!!!!)

So...here is what I came up with.

 

I got my Pretty in Pink paper out...but wow!..it sure looked pink today!  LOL!!  Right next to it in my file cabinet drawer was my Blush Blossom and it grabbed my attention immediately!  Because we were to use Pretty in pink on our cards, I stamped the snowflakes in pretty in pink onto the Blush Blossom c.s. (I did highlight the snowflakes with a white gel pen to soften them up a little).  I made the curvy corner by placing my large roll of mounting tap on the corner, tracing it with a pencil (on the back side of course) and cutting it out.  I embossed the little snowflakes on the main image layer with White e.p.  All the coloring was done with Prismacolor pencils and a colorless blender pencil.  For the sentiment, I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp each word (one at a time) along the curve.  Finally, I added some Frosted Lace Stickles to the center of the small snowflakes and added some more to the "snow".

Here is a list of all the Dirty Girls that are playing in this challenge:

11Valerie11
atomicbutterfly
BadSherry
Chantel
cookiestamper
cwilliams
debbiedesigns
Duckwaddlequack
flaxychick
genie1314
Jami
JanTInk
jbalcer
Jeanne S
JulieHRR
kittie747
Lauraly
leigh obrien
Linda D
LodiChick
mel mel
mytime
notimetostamp
rainy
rohla
StamperSharon
SweetMissDaisy
tashers
Tayloredexpressions
texasjdodylynn
waterchild12
WaterPixie
Zindorf

To see these gorgeous creations, check out the GALLERY for them at Splitcoast!

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure to check back in a little bit, to see who the winner of the Goodies is!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: A Winter Song, A Little Note, Falling Snowflake, Snowflake 2 (All Elzybells)   Paper: Whisper White, Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa   Ink: Palette Noir, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Versamark   Other: Prismacolor pencils, Frosted Lace Stickles, Rhinestones, Ribbon, Fibers, Sewing Machine, White e.p., White souffle pen

Life's Greatest Comforts...

Happy Monday!  Wow!  I have enjoyed reading your responses to your favorite Thanksgiving dessert!!  Some of you even left recipes and/or links to recipes...thank you!!!  I'm still sorting through them all to decide what "new" dessert we're going to add to our dinner this year!  Also..thank you so much for those that left the Skunk smell "neutralizer" recipe!!  LOL!  Unfortunately we DO need it!  They have sprayed all around our house almost daily!!  I have been burning every candle I own (which...if you know me...that is A LOT).  The worst part is that the spot they have sprayed the most is right in front of my stamp room window!!  UGH!!  My DH is calling the trapper to get some traps...so hopefully this will pass soon!

I just love the sentiments in Verve Visual's newest releases (Wonderful Wishes & Starlight Starbright)!  They can make any set seem "new" again!

I stamped the cupcake tier in River Rock onto Shimmery white c.s.  I created the rectangle layers by embossing and then cutting with my new rectangle Nestabilites.   I then added some cupcakes (from Short & Sweet)  that I had stamped, colored and cut out (I added the Stickles to the frosting after I had my card assembled).  I love this paper by Cosmo Cricket, but felt that it was too bold for my soft cupcakes so I added a layer of vellum c.s. over the top of  it and adhered it with some brads in the corners.  For the sentiment, I stamped the oval frame from Verve's Wonderful Wishes onto Shimmery white c.s. and then used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the sentiment "Wishing you life's greatest comforts" in the center of the oval.

I'll be back in the morning with something new.. AND the winner of the Blog Goodies!!  Have a great day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Wonderful Wishes (Verve Visual), Party Time (A Muse), Short & Sweet (Stampin' Up!)   Paper: Shimmery white c.s., Vellum c.s., River Rock, Dutch Girl Patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket)   Ink: River Rock, Rose Red, Sage Shadow marker, Rose Red marker, Black Stazon   Other: Frosted Lace Stickles, Rectangle Nestabilities, brads, Pearl, Ribbon (from Micheal's Dollar bin)

Wish Big...

O.K....I'm back!  Remember the "new stamps"  I was telling you about in my last post?  Well, if you've been on Splitcoast the last couple weeks, chances are you have probably seen a banner for these adorable Elzybell stamps!  As soon as I saw them, I couldn't resist getting some!  They are just precious!

This is my second card for today's Featured Stamper Challenge.  Here is Chat's card that I chose to case this time.  I stamped this little angel on Shimmery cardstock (it's so hard to capture that in a picture!!) and colored her in with my ink pads and a blender pen.  I (of course) had to add some sparkle!! 

I hope you all enjoy your evening!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Short & Sweet, Elzybell stamps   Paper: Misc. DP, Shimmery c.s., Vellum c.s., Wild Wasabi, Ballet Blue   Ink: Palette Noir, Ballet Blue, Wild Wasabi, Barely Banana   Other: Crafter's Tool Kit, Rhinestones, Rhinestone brads, 5/8" Brocade Blue grosgrain, Stickles, Ticket corner punch, Marvy Oval punches

Another Christmas Card...

Happy Sunday!!  I hope you all are enjoying your weekend!  Today is the Featured Stamper Challenge over at Splitcoast....and the Featured Stamper is none other that Anna Wight (SweetMissDaisy on SCS)!!  I have been an admirer of hers for quite a while!  She just oozes talent!  I don't know what she can't do!  If you all get a chance, you NEED to check out her gallery!  It was tough to decide which card I wanted to CASE...I'm so intimidated by her coloring skills!  If I took coloring lessons for the next 100 years, I still wouldn't be able to color like her!  Wow!  I finally chose THIS card.

The card base size for this is a 5 1/4" square.  I embossed both the main image and the sentiment with Black embossing powder.  I colored the image in with my ink pads and a wet watercolor brush.  The birds and the berries have Stickles on them.

I don't know what company makes this stamp.  The stamp itself doesn't have anything on it, and it is one that I borrowed from my mom (hence the thank you card I made her a couple of days ago..heheee!).  I just love this stamp, though!

I will really try to have something new to show you tomorrow...but I can't promise.  It's Monday tomorrow (as if you needed me to tell you that...LOL), and that means I'm pretty busy with the kids' school, laundry, and basically getting everyone back on track after the weekend.  You never know...it could be a super easy day and I'll have lots of time to stamp (wishful thinking... :-)  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  ~Laurie

Edited To Add:  A very kind lady named Jen emailed me with the name of the Comapny that makes this stamp.  It is a PSX stamp and is called Winter Robins.  Thanks for that info, Jen!

Recipe   Stamps: All Holidays, Winter Robbins stamp by PSX  Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Grey Dasher DP   Ink: Versamark, Various ink pads to color with   Other: Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware, Decorative brad by Bo Bunny, Red fibers, Soft Sky dbl. Stitched ribbon, Paper piercer, Stardust Stickles and Red Stickles

Autumn Tree for Maddy...

Well, the photo editing program is wonderful!!!  I didn't get very long to "play" with it...but so far I love, love it!! 

Today's Featured Stamper over at Splitcoast is Maddy Mason!  She is the lady that I mentioned several posts ago, that is going through a difficult time.  She is an amazingly talented stamper and it was an honor to choose a card of hers to case!  I chose this beautiful card!

I inked up the tree stamp in Chocolate Chip and then sponged on some Cosmic Copper (Brilliance Dew Drop) for some shimmery dimension.  Then I inked the whole piece in Versamark and poured on Glassy Glaze embossing powder.  I repeated the layers 3 more times.  After it was completely cool, I "cracked" it by bending it in different directions.

The background was run through my Cuttlebug with the Textile embossing folder.  I rubbed some Chocolate Chip ink over it and then lightly sponged on some Cosmic Copper ink.  It is very hard to see the subtle shimmer this card has, but in real life it IS warm and shimmery!  I used the top of the tree stamp to create the swirls on the base Chocolate Chip layer.

I hope you all have a wonderful evening!  See you tomorrow!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Tree stamp from Inkadinkadoo   Paper: Very Vanilla, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip   Ink: Chocolate Chip, Cosmic Copper Brilliance pad, Versamark   Other: Glassy Glaze e.p., brads, Decorative brad, Ivory 5/8" grosgrain, Copper cord, Ticket corner punch

All Warm & Fuzzy...

If this butterfly looks a little fuzzy...that's because it is!!  I actually completed 3 different challenges...all with one card!  This butterfly card falls under yesterday's flock challenge (to use flocking on a card), Clear stamp challenge (to use only clear stamps), & today's Pink challenge (hostessed by Cambria...who loves pink :-).

There are a couple of ways to apply flock to your card.  The first is to use your 2-way glue pen and "color" in the area you want flock on and the second is to ink up your stamp in the glue pad.

Below is a close up of the butterfly.   

I will have two more projects to share with you later today!  Also, I will upload the picture of the blog candy tonight!!  Woohoo!  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Butterfly Kisses (by Papertrey)   Paper: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, White vellum cardstock   Ink: Pretty in pink, Glue pad   Other: Pink flock, Wide White organdy ribbon, pink dotted ribbon, Heart Jewels, Mini & Micro Jewels, Mega circle punch, Giga scalloped circle punch, Corner rounder punch, Divine Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder