Just Give Me Stamps...

Happy Heart Day!

Hi ya!  Happy Valentine's Day!!  I absolutely love Valentine's Day!  I mean, a whole day dedicated to love!!  Yay!!

As a girl, one of things that I fondly remember about this day is waking up and finding a small gift left at my seat at the table for me by my mom.  It was most often something small, and usually contained a treat, but it was such a great memory that I carry on the tradition for my kids!  Thanks mom for the great Valentine's Day memories!



This first card is one that I made using the new Geo-Graphic & Word Salad sets from Paper Smooches!  The Geo-Graphic set was designed by the very sweet and talented Karolyn Loncon!  Both Kim and Karolyn are giving away this stamp set!  Head on over to their blogs for all the details!

This second card, uses the newly released Good Gab set (also from Paper Smooches)!  I went with the whole "Love Letter" theme, by using my patterned paper to shape my card into an envelope of sorts.  :-)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope your day is amazing!!  ~Laurie

Valentine's Day Treats...

Hi there!  I wanted to pop in here and share the goodies I made for my boys to give away at their school Valentine's Day party tomorrow!

I used the uber cute Love Monsters set from Taylored Expressions for two of the three different types of treats.  The top left treat is the one my youngest son will be giving away to his classmates.  He LOVED this stamp and insisted that we put a punched out red heart between them! 

The little monster treat on the right is what I fondly call the "Nerd Sandwich"!  (See last photo for a picture of the back).  I placed a mini box of Nerds candy between to red scalloped circles.

For the little dynamite sticks, I wrapped red cardstock around three packages of Smarties.  Then, I tucked a "wick" (a piece of rope) into one end.  To complete them, I tied a tag (printed on my computer) that says "You're the Bomb!" onto it with some twine.

This photo shows you the back of the Nerd Sandwich.  The bottom half is where my middle son will write the to and from stuff.  :-)

Well, that's all from me!  Hope you enjoy the rest of your day!  ~Laurie

LOVEly Glitz Cards...

Hi there!  It's my turn again to share some more Glitz projects with you!

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays!  I mean, a whole day devoted to letting people know how wonderful they are...what could be better?  :-)

Technically, this first card isn't a Valentine's Day card, but I was just so smitten with the Beautiful Dreamer line and I thought it would look pretty as an encouragement card as well!  :-)

I am so loving Glitz's new Epoxy Word stickers!  They are just the perfect addition to any card!

My second card is all about Love!  I used part of a Love Nest Whatnot (I cut off the bingo part) for the Love layer.  In fact, I cut up my Whatnots a lot!  Shocking, I know...but they not only last longer but they fit better onto my cards.  :-)  To finish the card off, I added lots of trims and ribbon, a button, a Love Nest Rub On (on the right upper corner) and a cardstock "u" sticker!

Be Brave Card
Beautiful Dreamer Papers - Floral, Polka
Beautiful Dreamer Paper Layers
Beautiful Dreamer Peek - A - Boo
Beautiful Dreamer Epoxy Words
Beautiful Dreamer Glitzers

Love U Card
Love Nest Papers - Sky, Damask
Love Nest Rub Ons
Love Nest Whatnot
Cardstock Stickers - Vintage Alpha
Beautiful Dreamer Trims

 

Verve After Party Blog Hop...

Welcome to our January 2012 After Party Hop!  Last night we released 3 new stamp sets, 4 plain janes and 4 dies!  All of the new products we've been showcasing this week are available now in the Verve store! Be sure to leave a little comment love as you take a stroll through the Diva blogs. One lucky commenter from today's hop will win the ENTIRE Release! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines.

I adore Verve's Plain Janes, and this Happy Valentine's Day one is no exception!  Because of the lovely script and size, I chose to make this the focal point of my card.  I added embellishments around it, but wanted to make sure that the sentiment still was the star of the show.  :-)  To do that, I matted the oval sentiment layer on a red label cut out with the Curvy Bookplate Die (Verve) and then layered that on a label that was included with my patterned paper pad.

There is SO much inspiration in store for you!  Check out what the Divas have created...

 

January 14, 2012
1. Amy	8. Tosha
2. Maureen	9. Laurie
3. Sankari	10. Julee
4. Andrea	11. Janelle
5. Teresa	12. Betty
6. Amber	13. Shannan
7. Charmaine	14. Jackie

 

I'm so glad you stopped by today!  Hugs, Laurie

 

Stamps: Valentine's Day Plain Jane
Paper: Miss Nelly 6 1/2" paper pad (Kasiercraft), White c.s.
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Curvy Bookplate Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Paper Doily, Lace, Ribbon (SU!), Buttons, Flower (Prima), Stardust Stickles, Black Detail embossing powder, Heart Rhinestone (Prima), String, Narrow Oval Nestabilities

2011 Favorites Part 3 and Winner Announced...

Hi there!  Sorry I'm posting so late today...B had a Dr. appt earlier and I didn't get a chance until now.  I thought I would wrap up my favorites for 2011, as well as announce the winner for the giveaway I posted about last Saturday!

In September, I created this bookmark.  I used the Words of Wisdom and Graph Paper Plain Jane sets along with the Rounded Rectangle Die (all from Verve Stamps).

For October, I have two favorites.  First, I created this simple Christmas card using the Candy Jar Christmas set from Waltzingmouse Stamps.

My second favorite from October is this vintage card featuring papers from Glitz Design!

For November, this paper pieced Christmas card was hands down my favorite!  My card was created using the Bright Spirits stamps set and the Winter Tree Plain Jane (all from Verve Stamps).

In December, I created this soft Valentine's card using the Smoocheroos set from Paper Smooches.

Well, that wraps up my favorites from 2011!  Thanks SO much for stopping by and sharing your thoughtful and sweet comments with me last year!  Here's to a creative 2012...

Before I go, I want to announce the winner from my giveaway!  According to Random.org, the winner is....

 

Congratulations Peg Smith!!  I will be in contact with you via email soon!! 

 

Huge hugs to all of you!!  ~Laurie

 

Love - Glitz Style...

A great big happy Monday to you!  Valentine's Day is just one short week away and that has gotten me thinking about those in my life that I love.  :-)   I adore making cards...and especially for those that are special to me!  Nothing says I Love You quite like a made-with-heart card!

I chose some of the softer patterns from the Love Nest collection (all from Glitz Design) for my first card  So that it would stand out a bit from the background, I arched the vellum layer (with the Love is rub on already applied) a bit and secured it with some brads on the sides.

For my next card, I again chose some patterned paper from the Love Nest collection!  After adhering the bottom two layers together, I stamped one of the large rectangle frames (from the Fancy Frames set) using some brown pigment ink so that it covered a bit of both layers.  To create the focal point, I stamped a lovey-dovey sentiment and then added some Love Nest Glitzers to a round Love Nest cardstock journaling sticker (which I had already added some messy stitching to).

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope your day is one that is filled with those that you love!  ~Laurie

Love Is card
Glitz Design "Love Nest" papers: Damask, Block
Glitz Design "Love Nest" Whatnot
Glitz Design Vintage Love Rub Ons
Other:  White c.s., Vellum c.s., White ribbon, String, Prima Flower, Brads, Border punch (Martha Stewart), Corner rounder punch, Pumice Stone Distress Ink

Love Me Do card
Glitz Design "Love Nest" papers: Polka, Floral
Glitz Design "Love Nest" Journaling Cardstock Stickers
Glitz Design "Love Nest" Glitzers
Other:  Love Notes stamp set (Verve), Vintage Cream c.s. (PTI), Gingham ribbon, Sewing machine, Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Pink Stickles, Sewing machine, Prima flower

Paper Smooches Co-Hop!

 Have you heard?

Kim Hughes opened a stamp company on February 1st called Paper Smooches!  On The first day of every month, she is releasing 3 new whimsical and fun clear stamp sets that she hand draws.

Kim asked me to create a card using one of her February stamp sets.  I used Pretty Phrases on today's card.  :-)



She offers high quality photopolymer clear stamps, shaped card templates, a design center, and so much more!

There will be a monthly challenge on the The Paper Smooches Blog (Free digi stamps are involved) Participants will be eligible to be a guest designer for the following month.

Here is a list of some of the Industry's top designers who are also playing with some Paper Smooches Stamps today:

Michele Boyer
Alli Miles
Lori Craig
Julie Campbell
Carole Burrage
Karolyn Loncon
Kim Kesti
Betsy Veldman
Maren Benedict
Debbie Olson
Melissa Phillips
Carly Robertson
Julia Stainton
Becky Olsen
Teri Anderson
Kyrssi Ng
Heidi Van Laar
Heather Pulvirenti
Laurie Schmidlin
Lisa Johnson
Lori Barnett
Jessica Witty
Asela Hopkins
Rae Barthel

Thanks SO much for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Stamps:  Pretty Phrases (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  Choice Buttercream (TE), Vellum c.s., J'et Adore  (Making Memories)
Ink:  Aged Mahogany Distress Ink, Chamomile Vintage Ink (PTI)
Accessories:  Sizzix Heart Die, Pink acrylic paint, Pink Mica Flakes (Melissa Frances), Prima flower, EK Success border punch, Sizzix Top Note Die, Rhinestones, Sewing machine

Batty in Love...

Good morning!  Did you all see the exciting announcement on Kim Hughes' blog yesterday??  She started her own stamp company - Paper Smooches!!!  :-)  Make sure you check out the three brand new sets and two shaped card templates over at the Paper Smooches store!

There's even MORE good news!  I received an email a while ago from Kim Hughes asking if I would like to be on her Design Team!  Ummm....YEAH!!!!!!  Teehehehee!  I'm so honored to be a part of this amazing team!  You can see the full announcement over on the Paper Smooches blog!!

For my card today, I used the uber cute Falling for You set!  The bat's eyes make me giggle...I love them!!  :-)  I kept my card simple...with just a patterned paper heart (made from an older Basic Grey paper pad and my Sizzix heart die), a button, and some string!

Well, that's all from me today!  I hope you have a FABULOUS day!!  ~Laurie

Valentine Wishes...

Happy weekend!  :-)  We are spending a quiet day at home today...which is MUCH needed after a whole week of constantly being in the car!  :-) 

While going through some of my computer files, I stumbled upon a card I haven't shared yet!  I made this for the last Verve release (which happens to be one of my favorite releases EVER)!

Oh how I love Valeninte's Day!  I love the idea of giving cards to those we love just to tell them how special they are to us!  Love it!!  So, naturally I also love to make Valentine's cards!  :-)

For this one, I used the new Love Notes set.  I started by embossing the little heart (using Black detail e.p.) randomly on some of the circles on the background paper.  I then layered an acetate doily, some tickets that were stamped with the I {heart} You sentiment, buttons, ribbon, and the focal heart that was stamped and then cut out with the Jotted Heart Die! 

Sigh...  Don't you just love Valentine's colors?  They make me so happy!

Have a wonderful weekend!!  ~Laurie

Stamps: Love Notes
Paper: Disco Love (Reminisce), True Black, White c.s. (PTI), Tickets (Pink Paislee)
Ink: Versamark, Red Versamagic Dew Drop
Accessories: Jotted Heart Die (Verve), Black Detail e.p., Clear Detail e.p. (Judikins), Ribbon, Buttons, White Acetate Doily (Maya Road), Rhinestones

Love...

A great big happy Tuesday to you! 

Okay, I don't know why...but ever since I've taken the picture of this card I've had the line "Wuv, twue wuv" from the Princess Bride movie going through my head!  LOL!! 

Now, on to something much more stamping related...my card!  Teehehehee!

I used Verve's newly released Love Notes combined with the older Accent Notes!  I started with some patterned paper (from Bo Bunny) and embossed one of the medallion images from Accent notes all over to create my background.  For the focal images, I embossed the heart (from Love Notes onto Smokey Shadow c.s. and then cut it out using the Jotted Heart Die (also new from Verve)!  I tucked an extra black heart behind the gray one...you know, just for fun.  :-)  I embossed the Love stamp onto white c.s. and mounted it onto the circular frame I made (by embossing the circular frame image onto black c.s. and trimming around it).  For embellishments, I added ribbon, flowers, a punched border, rhinestones, a key charm, and some stitching. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a fantastic day! 

Hugs,
Laurie

Stamps: Love Notes, Accent Notes (Verve)
Paper: Crush patterned paper (Bo Bunny), True Black (PTI), Smokey Shadow (PTI), White
Ink: Versamark, Black Brilliance, Black Soot Distress Ink
Accessories: Jotted Heart Die (Verve), Circle Nestabilities, Martha Stewart border punch, Rhinestones, Black Satin ribbon (SU!), Key Charm, Sewing machine, Black Detail e.p., Hearts embossing folder (Sizzix), Prima flowers