Just Give Me Stamps...

Fishers of Men...

 Happy Sunday!!  We don't have any big plans today...as DH is still healing up...but we will try and sneak out for a picnic or something (somewhere close).  Our weather has finally started to warm up, so we are all anxious to get out and enjoy it!  :-)  I've shared so many pictures of snow...that I thought I would share a picture that we took this afternoon (see the bottom of this post).

Today is the release date of two brand new sets form Our Daily Bread Designs(Sing to the Lord & Fishers of Men)!  For my card, I also used some of the cardstock that Kelley (owner of Our Daily Bread) sent the Design Team for June's Color Challenge.

I had such a hard time getting a decent picture of this card!  I apologize for the poor quality, but after retaking the picture a half dozen times I decided that this would have to do.  :-)

Have a blessed day!

Recipe   Stamps: Fishers of Men (Our Daily Bread), Sanded   Paper:Papertrey White, Suede Light Brown, Suede Dark Brown, Mystic Dark (Prism Papers)   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Chocolate Chip craft ink, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa   Other:Clear e.p., Photo Corner punch, Copic markers, May Arts net ribbon, Linen Thread, Decorative brad, Paper piercer

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

Evening Sky...

This is a 'non-stamping' post...but I will try not to bore you too much!  :-)  While I was making dinner yesterday evening, I got to enjoy this beautiful view from my kitchen window!!

I just loved how the clouds were so low...but you could see the sky peeking through!  In this picture, the sun was just about to go behind the mountain!

Mr. Brown is coming today (hurray for UPS!!!) and is bringing some fun new stamps!  How fortunate...because today I have quite a bit of stamping time set aside!!  Woohoo!  So make sure you check back tomorrow...I'll having something new for you to see!  :-)  ~Laurie

A Stamper's Dream...

I have some exciting news!!!  I am so honored to now be a part of the Stamper's Dream Design Team!  Stamper's Dream carries such a huge variety of stamps...from the fun and whimsical to the detailed and elegant!  Michelle (owner of Stamper's Dream), also carries every color of Stickles known to man (and you all probably know by now how I feel about Stickles!!!)! 

As if this wasn't exciting enough.....you should check out who I get to be on the team with!!!!  Carolyn King (aka Cammie on SCS), Kurtis Amundson (aka Stampin' Kub on SCS), & Tosha Leyendekker (aka Stamps4funinCA on SCS) are all amazing stampers....and I get to "work" with them!!!!  How lucky can a girl get?  I should be receiving my stamps soon...(I have to tell you...the ones that I know are coming...make my heart go *Pitter Patter*)....so I'll have some fun new samples to share with you soon!

Thanks so much for sharing in my excitement with me!!!!  Have a blessed weekend!  ~Laurie

On The Mend...

Well, I can finally say that we are all on the mend!  I actually never got all that sick...which is a good thing because I've been running around like crazy taking care of everyone else!  I have to admit though...after they all went to bed (which thankfully has been early lately...LOL) I headed straight to my stamp room for a little "stamping therapy"!  I can't show you all of it yet...even though I really, really want to!  I am a sucker for Valentine's Day...and I'm having a blast creating some fun stuff for that!  I had really wanted to participate in today's Sketch Challenge (it is the Kickstand card sketch that Kirstin (Ked) came up with)...it just looked so fun!  Well, since everyone is starting to get better I might be able to sneak some more stamping time in tonight...we'll see.  I do promise, though, that I will have something new for you to see in the morning!

Also, I just wanted to remind you that tomorrow is the big Verve Visual release!!!  There will be 5 brand new sets to see!  AND...they are all clear stamps!  I cannot wait for you to see them!  Check them out HERE!

I'll be back in the morning!  ~Laurie

I'm Finally Getting Around To It...

You would not believe how many stamps I have!  If i started stamping right now and didn't quit....it would take me a whole month to use what I have!  LOL!  With new stamps on the way (well, hopefully they will be on their way...my order still shows as "picking"...sigh...) I really need to clear out some of these retired sets!  It's been so many years since I've done this!  The main reason it's been so long is that I still really like them!  But, alas...I have seriously outgrown my stamping space and need to pair down a bit. 

I have already started going through my sets and have quite a few boxes (did I really just admit that???) set aside.  I won't have time to post them until after the 15th (I still have a few projects that I'm working on for SCS's January Fan Club gallery).  I will add a separate page here and will make sure to let you know when it's posted!  ~Laurie

Tagged!

Well, we are still all recovering from this nasty stomach flu.  Well, I actually didn't get very sick...but I'm "recovering" from being up all night with the little ones!  I have been stamping a little...but I can't share it with you quite yet.  I thought while my youngest son (he's two) is sleeping on my lap, I would "play" along with the tagging game that has been going around.

Tosha (Stamp Talk With Tosh) and Patti (Pure Inkspiration) have both tagged me!  The rules are:

• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

O.k....hmmmm...7 random things about me.  It's hard to believe that anyone would actually want to read this.  Well, here goes...

1. When I was 12 years old, I made a list of qualities/traits that I wanted in my future husband.  I then remember praying and telling God that I didn't think I wanted to ever get married unless this guy would have all of these qualities.  The list had 18 items on it, with the last one being "from Europe".  I think I added that last one thinking that I wouldn't have to ever get married.  LOL!  The funny thing about all this is that my husband (who is from Europe (LOL!!) meets every last one of those things that I wrote!!
2. I really, really like coffee!  I have liked it ever since I was a little girl (when I drank it out of my mom's cup when she wasn't looking).
3. I am a major night owl!  I think clearer, am happier, and do my best stamping at night!
4. I love to bake bread!  My mother-in-law has passed down some wonderful Swiss bread recipes to me that I enjoy making for my family.  I also like to experiment and create my own bread recipes.
5. I am almost anal about good table manners.  My kids probably wouldn't put the "almost" in that last sentence!  LOL!
6. My absolute favorite "candy" is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!  Call me crazy, but I would even pass up Swiss chocolate for them!
7. I play the cello.  I know, I mentioned that the last time I was tagged...but I just can't think of anything else!  :-)

I really don't like this next part...where I'm supposed to "tag" 7 people.  Sigh...  I just can't narrow it down!  I would hate for anyone to be left off the list!  I know, I'm a wimp (and evidently a rule-breaker as well).  If you haven't participated in this tag before, please consider this you 'tag"!!!  If you do play, please post a comment on this post so I can make sure to read it!!

Thanks so much Tosh and Patti for tagging me!  ~Laurie

Merry Christmas!!!

I know, I've been pretty quiet lately.  It's just worked out that we've all been able to spend some wonderful time together as a family!   

We've been playing games, playing in the snow (we just got another 6 inches of FRESH snow this morning), and just plain 'ole' hanging out!  It's been wonderful!!  I figured that I'd better enjoy this while I can! 

I do want to wish all of you a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!  I pray that those of you that are traveling are safe and that you, too can enjoy being together with family! 

I have to tell you though, that I've been getting some waaaaay fun stampin' stuff in the mail lately!!  I cannot wait to play with it!  I will have some fun, new stuff to share after Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!!   ~Laurie

Some Exciting News!

I'm so excited to now be a part of the All That Scraps Design Team!  It truly is a wonderful surprise...and I'm so grateful for the opportunity!  Here is a list of the talented ladies that are also being added to the team:

Crystal Spencer ---------- BLOG   Cyndi Bundy ------------- BLOG   Inge Groot ----------- BLOG   Jeanette Fincher --------- BLOG   Katie Stilwater -------- BLOG   Lesa Rapp ---------- BLOG   Linda Black --------- BLOG   Renée Van Stralen ------- BLOG   Shannan Teubner --------- BLOG   Sue Berker ------------- BLOG   Tricia Traxler --------- BLOG

There are some fun new C.C. Designs stamps on their way, and I can't wait to "play"!   Thanks for sharing in my excitement with me!   ~Laurie

Acetate...

I've had several emails asking me where I get my acetate from.  In my Merry Little Nugget Box post I used acetate for the "lid".  I mentioned that I got the acetate from Ellen Hutson's store.  I completely forgot that it's kind of hard to find.  She has it listed under the Embellishments category.  Here is a direct link if anyone is interested.  Also she is having a sale this weekend (15% off everything!!), just use the code CELEBRATE during checkout!  ~Laurie