Just Give Me Stamps...

For A Bronc Bustin' Dad...

Happy Friday!  Friday means it'sBeate's Weekend Sketch ChallengeTime!  Woohoo!  This Friday will also be (hopefully) the start of *actual* summer weather for us!  It's snowed almost every day this week...and has rarely gotten above the 40's...but today, we are supposed to get up to almost 70!  Party time!!  LOL!

I still needed to make another Father's Day car for my DH...and what could be more appropriate than this Bronc Buster set?  LOL!  I turned Beate's sketch to the side, and also changed it to a square (5 1/4") card so that it would work better with my larger focal image.

I embossed all the images in black...and also distressed most of the edges (with the Cutter Kit and lots of sponging).  I added a knotted rope (today's Limited Supplies Challenge) and a couple of brads as embellishments.  I have no idea why (grin), but my DH doesn't like a lot of embellishments....  LOL!

Make sure to check out what the other talented ladies have come up with for this sketch:  Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe   Stamps: Bronc Buster, Wanted, Sanded   Paper: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black   Ink:Versamark, Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray   Other: Black embossing powder, Hemp, Brads, Photo Corner punch, Cutter Kit, Paper piercer

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge # 50!

Happy Friday!!  Can you believe that there have now been 50 Weekend Sketch Challenges??  Wooohoo!!  Something that just occurred to me the other day...is that I should be keeping these sketches in a binder so I can refer back to them.  (I know...I'm slow!  LOL!)  They really are a great resource!!

For this card, I was going for a fresh and clean style.  I normally don't leave so much empty white space on a card (maybe I think of it like "dead air" on a radio??)...but it really did fit the fresh and clean style so I broke out of my stamping "box" and went for it!!  LOL!  I decided to use my Priceless set (it's been waaay to long since it's seen any ink).  The flowers are embossed with Clear e.p. (I really think this helps the color pop a little more) and cut out.  I scored the bottom Chocolate Chip panel to create a striped pattern (I looooove stripes and polka dots together).

You should also check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Lori, Mary Jo, &Sharon have made!  It's so fun to see all of the different cards they come up with using the same sketch!!  If you want to play along...make sure to check out Beate's sketch HERE.

The sun is shining here...and it promises to be a gorgeous Spring day!!  Woohoo!  I hope you all have a fantastic day!

Recipe   Stamps: Priceless, Short & Sweet   Paper: Shimmery White c.s., Closet to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip   Ink:Certainly Celery, Versamark   Other: Clear e.p., Corner rounder punch, Scor-Pal, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder, Brads, Ribbon, White e.p., Paper piercer

Inspiring Blooms...

Happy Friday!!!  Woohoo for the long weekend!  :-)  Even though it warms up a little during the day...it is still pretty chilly outside...so no camping for us!  LOL!  I'm sure we'll get some warmer weather pretty soon...and since we've been in a drought for several years now, I cannot complain about the moisture we're getting (even if it does come in the form of snow!!)!!  LOL!

When I saw the sketch for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challengethis week, I was thrilled!  I have been wanting to use my Bloomin' Beautiful set again...and this sketch is perfect for it!  :-)

I don't know what it is about K & Co paper exactly...but I swear I'm addicted to it!  This paper was the inspiration for the colors of my card, the embellishments...well just about everything!  LOL!  I stamped the flowers onto Shimmery White c.s. with Adirondack Espresso ink and then colored them in with my Copic markers.  I cut the flowers out and mounted it on the circles with dimensionals.  I wanted to define them just a bit more, so I added Crystal Effects to both the flowers and the vase.

I used my new Spellbinders Tags 5 die to  cut/emboss the large tag at the top.  The "inspire" metal embellishment is one that I've had in my stash for a while.

You all have to check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori,Mary Jo, & Sharon have made...they always knock my socks off!!

I hope you all have a fantastic day!!  I'll be back tomorrow with a couple of cards to share with you!  :-)

Oh, the Irony of It!

Good Morning!  The past few days, we have been enjoying some warm (at least for us :-) days...and finally seeing the results of Spring (green grass coming, leaf buds starting on all the trees, & all the birds starting to return)...it's been wonderful!!  Yesterday, I sat down to stamp my card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge...and I had my window open by my stamp desk, enjoying a warm Spring breeze.  I was so inspired by it, that I decided to cut out and mount my "Life's a Breeze" set and make a fun, Summer-themed type of card!

Weeeeelllll, THIS is what I woke up to this morning!!!  We have definitely had the strangest weather this year!!  I'm just glad that while I was in town yesterday, I resisted the temptation to buy these GORGEOUS potted flowers!  We are a good 1000 feet higher out here, and usually we wait until after Memorial Day to plant anything anyway...but MAN, these flowers were pretty!  Hopefully the snow won't last...

So, this is the card that was inspired by our warm (although short) weather yesterday!  When I saw the sketch (see below), I kept thinking that the bottom strip would be perfect for water!  :-)

I kept my layers to a minimum (for me, anyway :-) , and sponged some of the edges with Cool Caribbean to help "pop" them out a bit.  For my sailboat, I first embossed it onto White c.s. using Pumpkin Pie ink and Clear e.p.  I stamped it again onto some coordinating patterned paper (all the patterned paper is from the We R Memory Keepers "White Out" Collection)...once onto the the red patterned paper (for the bottom of the boat), and once onto the dotted paper (for the sail).  After I cut out and glued the different pieces onto the boat, I used one of my Oval Nestabilities to cut out and emboss the oval.

Like I've mentioned is a previous post, I'm not normally a huge fan of bright colors....but I was just so taken by this fun paper!!  I LOVE stripes...and thought it went perfectly with my card, but I didn't want to cover it all up with the rectangle layer...so, I used some vellum c.s. for the main layer and added a strip of turquoise patterned paper for the water.  I cut out a "frame" from Pumpkin Pie c.s. and then sponged it a little with some White craft ink.

This is Beate's sketch for this week!  I hope you get a chance to play!

To see more gorgeous cards made with this sketch, check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, & Mary Jo have made!

I hope you all have a wonderful Friday! 

Recipe   Stamps: Life's a Breeze   Paper: White c.s., Pumpkin Pie, Vellum c.s., We R Memory Keepers (White Out Collection)   Ink: Versamark, Cool Caribbean, Pumpkin Pie, White craft ink  Other: Clear e.p., White e.p., Oval Nestabilities, White grosgrain ribbon, Large decorative eyelet, Craft knife

Mother's Day is Just Around the Corner...

I'm usually making my Mom's and Mother in Law's cards one or two days before Mother's Day.  Well, that's not that great if you have to mail one of them half way across the world!  LOL!  When I saw this week's sketch (Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #46) I knew it would be perfect for a Mother's Day card!  My Mother in Law will be so surprised to actually get her card ON TIME!!!  Woohooo! 

 

I fell in love with this gorgeous new paper from K & Company (from the Blue Awning Collection) that I picked up at my LSS store yesterday.  (I call it my Local Scrapbook Store because it is the closest one to me...even though it's three hours away)!  I was shopping...happily loading my card with lots of really, really fun stuff...when the owner told me she just got a shipment of BRAND NEW K & Co. stuff.  She must have seen my eyes glaze over or something, because she led me to the back room where it was still in boxes.  I did my best not to drool over all of her merchandise....but MAN...this paper is GORGEOUS!!! 

Anyway....hehehheee....the paper was my inspiration for colors and patterns!  :-)  For my rectangle background piece, I embossed the swirls from Baroque Motifs on to Vellum c.s. using River Rock Classic ink and my Versamark pad.  Both the bird (from the Always set) and the Mother's Day sentiment are embossed using Night Sky VersaMagic Dew Drop ink and Clear e.p. onto Shimmery White c.s.  I added some Prima flowers (with some smaller flowers int he centers), clear rhinestones, & White organdy ribbon for embellishments.

You'll want to see what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have made....they will amaze you for sure!!

I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!! 

Recipe   Stamps: Always, All Holidays, Baroque Motifs   Paper: Vellum c.s., Shimmery White c.s., River Rock (sponged with Certainly Celery), Night of Navy, K & Co. (Blue Awning Collection)   Ink: River Rock, Versamark, Night Sky Versamagic Dew Drop   Other: White organdy ribbon, Clear rhinestones, Prima flowers, Small white flowers, Sewing Machine, Clear e.p.

Big Flower Birthday...

Happy Thursday!!  I've been busy stamping...and I can't wait to show you what I've made!   

But...that will have to wait just a little bit longer...heheheee!  I did get to play in today's Ways to Use It challenge today, though!  When I read that the challenge was to use acrylic products...I knew I had to play!  You see, I've had these really cute Black & White acrylic frames (by Making Memories) for four months and keep forgetting to use them! 

Ok...a little disclaimer about this card before I tell you about it.  I think I broke my Janome Mini sewing machine...  :-(  I mean...who breaks a sewing machine??  Sigh...  Anyway, my thread bunched all up right in the middle of sewing.  Did I stop and "un-bunch" it?  Nope...this was my last sheet of large polka dot Pretty in Pink DP and I really, really wanted to use it!  So, I lifted up the foot, and using the skinny end of my stylus (hey..it was handy!!), I tried to untangle it.  I was able to get it untangled, but it was still kind of bunched up.  I decided to just "go for it".  Well, it did work...sort of.  My sewing machine is now slow as molassis...and you can definitely see where this sewing mishap happened!  I would have been better off finding a different piece of DP I liked...LOL!

Ok...this is the how-to kind of stuff.  I embossed the flower with Black detail embossing powder onto Pretty in Pink c.s two different times.  I used one under the frame and cut out the center of the second one (which I then popped up a little).  The happy birthday sentiment is embossed as well (I just really like the solid look of embossing).  For embellishments, I added some Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, Black velvet ric-rac, a black button, & a pink rhinestone in the center of the flower.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!! 

Recipe   Stamps: Big Flowers, All Holidays   Paper: Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Prints Pack DP   Ink: Versamark   Other: Black detail e.p., Polka dot acrylic frame (Making Memories, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, Black velvet ric-rac, black button, Pink rhinestone, Sewing Machine (if I can still call it that...sniff, sniff)

Bloom...

Happy Friday!  I know I haven't posted for a while...things have just been crazy around here lately!  We are all feeling better now.  Woohoo!  Also...as I mentioned before, my mom is getting ready to move to a different state (Portland, OR) in a few weeks.  These next couple of weeks, we are going to try and spend as much time with her as possible...as well as the usual busy stuff that comes with moving.

   I did get to stamp last night!  Yay!!  I  made this for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #43.  This is the first time that I've used this stamp of potted flowers since I got it (and it's the flower that sold me on the set...hehehee).  I layered and popped up some of the flowers for a little added dimension (see close up picture below).

I stamped the flowers onto shimmery white c.s. with Adirondack Pitch Espresso ink and colored them in with my Copic markers.  For some embellishments, I added a little friendship metal tag (see picture below), Dew Drops, & double stitched Blue Bayou ribbon.

    

It's hard to see in this photo, but I added just the littlest bit of shimmer in the center of the flowers using my Clear Spica Glitter pen.

**Note:  I've had several people ask me how I adhere my Dew Drops to my card.  I used to just use a mini glue dot...mainly because it was fast.  I wasn't completely pleased with the results, though.  Sometimes the Dew Drops would move a little...or appear uneven.  I now squirt just a drop of Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive onto a small piece of scrap paper and then use a toothpick to apply a small amount to the back of the Dew Drop.  I LOVE the results!  While the glue is still wet, the Dew Drops move so I can maneuver them to where I want them...and the glue dries perfectly clear.

You should also check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have made!  They are all SO talented! 

I hope you all have a great day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps:   Bloomin' Beautiful, Canvas   Paper:  Porcelain Prints DP, Shimmery White c.s., Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi   Ink: Adirondack Espresso, Blue Bayou, Sahara Sand   Other: Copic markers, Clear Spica Glitter pen, Dew Drops, Blue Bayou dbl. stitched ribbon, Sewing machine, Metal tag

A Spring Song...

I'm not sure if I should actually fess up to this or not....but, this is one of  the first sets I ordered from Spring/Summer catalog and it is just now seeing ink for the first time!  At first I was feeling a little guilty...then I realized...the name of this set is "Spring" Song!   We have yet to see any signs of Spring here yet (it's currently 17 degrees with more snow on the way!!)...not very inspiring to stamp with a Spring stamp, right?  LOL!  I am definitely ready for the warmer weather!

I love Fridays!  I love being able to catch up on all that I couldn't quite finish during the week, I love relaxing in the evenings, I love being able to play during the day with the kids, I love stamping in the afternoon, & I love Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenges (all things I associate with the weekend)!!  When I first saw today's sketch...I immediately thought of this sweet bird that I have thus far neglected...and how perfect he (she?) would be for the circle element!

I stamped the bird onto watercolor paper and used my Classic re-inkers and a watercolor brush to color in the branch.  I then stamped the bird again onto watercolor paper, colored him in, cut just the bird image out and then popped it just a little with a Stampin' Dimensional.

The flowers are ones that I punched out using the Three For You punch and the same patterned paper I used on the card.  I stitched them onto the card with brown thread and a needle.

I also used this Chocolate Chip twill for the first time!  I love how nicely it ties!!  After my knot was finished, it just didn't look right to me, though.  That's when I decided to try fraying the edges for a softer look.

Here's a close up picture of the bird.  I used my Sakura Stardust pen to add just a little sparkle!  :-)

Make sure you check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Mary Jo, & Sharon have created with this sketch!!  They are some amazing stampers, I tell ya!

Have a wonderful weekend...and I hope you get some relaxing stamping time in!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Spring Song, All Holidays   Paper: Vellum c..s,  Watercolor paper, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Bohemia patterned paper by My Mind's Eye   Ink: Brown Stazon, Classic pads and re-fills for watercoloring, Chocolate Chip   Other: Chocolate Chip twill, Hodgepodge Hardware (Aged Copper), Three For You punch, Paper piercer, Sewing machine, Thread, Nestabilities, Sakura Stardust pen

She's Amazing...

Happy Thursday!!  This will be a quick post, because I am headed out the door soon.  Today is my daughter's twelfth birthday!  I can hardly believe it!!!  Am I really old enough to have a twelve year old???  LOL!!

I chose some of her favorite paper and colors (definitely a girl after my own heart!!).  The challenge today was to "Spray it On" (what we spray on was completely up to us).  I have had some Glimmer Mist for two months now (I'm blushing as I type this)...and this is the first time I've actually used it!  LOL!  I sprayed each layer with Snowflake Glimmer Mist.  I LOVE the subtle sparkle it gives (see the closeup photo).

I had to take this closeup picture at a strange angle because it's the only way I could capture the sparkle (I even sprayed some on the ribbon :-).

I hope you all have a great day!!  ~Laurie  P.S.  Be on the lookout for some Blog Candy!!

Recipe   Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment, Amazing to Zany   Paper: Soft Sky, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Fall Flowers DP   Ink: Chocolate Chip (Craft and Classic), Old Olive   Other: Clear e.p., Rhinestone brads, Felt Flowers, Sewing Machine, 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, 3/4" circle punch

Bloomin' Beautiful...

Happy Wednesday!  One of the sets that really stood out to me in the Spring Occasions catalog, was Bloomin' Beautiful.  Every time I'd flip through the catalog...I would always stop on that page.  I kept telling myself that it doesn't matter how pretty it is...I don't need another floral stamp set.  As you can see...I held out longer than I usually do!  LOL!  It's not all my fault though...after seeing all of the gorgeous cards that Christine Okken (aka ChristineCreations) has made with this set I knew I wouldn't be resisting too much longer!  :-)

I don't know if the timing for this week's Sketch Challenge could have been any more perfect!  The sketch specifically has a 1 1/2" strip on top...perfect for this flower that just happened to have arrived at my house last week!  Woohoo!

I stamped the flower onto watercolor paper using Palette Burnt Umber ink.  Both the flowers and leaves are cut out and popped up a little for some added dimension (see picture below).  I added some Diamond Stickles to parts of the flower (gotta get some sparkle in there somewhere...hehehee!).

For the background, I stamped the En Francais background stamp (inked in Close to Cocoa) onto some Ginger Blossom DP.  I layered another coordinating piece of DP (from the Ginger Blossoms collection) on top and instead of using cardstock for the horizontal panel...I used some ribbon.  Normally, I LOVE lots and lots of layers...but I really liked the look of the ribbon instead of more cardstock.  I intentionally did not stamp a sentiment on the front of this card as I like to have several "all purpose" cards ready for me to stamp on the inside as I need them.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!  We're expecting MORE snow today...can you believe it!!!  I'm hearing about...and seeing pictures on all your blogs...of the beautiful Spring  you all are experiencing....and here we are talking about going sledding again.  Sigh...   

Recipe   Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful, En Francais   Paper: Watercolor paper, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Ginger Blossom DP   Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, Close to Cocoa, Antique Linen Distress Ink, Various Classic pads for watercoloring   Other: Diamond Stickles, Dew Drops, 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon