Just Give Me Stamps...

Mmmmm...Blog Candy!

I have been so overwhelmed with all the encouragement and enthusiasm since I've started this blog!  I've received some of the nicest emails...not to mention the wonderful comments you've left...and I wanted to say THANK YOU!!!! 

I can't believe that there are over 11,000 hits already!  When I first started this, I had doubts that I would get 1,000 hit the first month...I mean who would want to read my blog?  You've exceeded my expectations....by 10,000!!!  So, to say "thanks", I'm offering up some goodies!  These are just a few of my favorite embellishments.

There is some *gorgeous* paisley paper (Blue Raspberry Paisley by Deja Views), some glittery floral and paisley paper (yes, the sparkle is already on it!!!), some Micro and Mini jewels, some exquisite velvet lavender ribbon, a spool of brown and caribbean striped ribbon, and some Black Diamond Stickles!!

   

To "enter" the drawing for these goodies, just leave a comment on this post.  If you'd like, tell me what your favorite color combo is right now (if you're like me, it probably changes weekly :-).  I will use a random number generator to choose the winner.  I will draw a winner on Tuesday morning!

Thanks again for visiting my site!

Laurie

Birthday Petals...

Well, I've finally had a chance to really pour over the new catalog.  My analysis...it's brilliant!!  Everything is so wonderful...the stamp sets (wow!)...new accessories (I'm wondering how I can narrow down all of the ribbon I want to order...sigh), new paper (be still my beating heart!)..and the samples, well they are superb!  I finally put the book down for a while and went and did some stamping.  I have several birthday cards I need to make in the next couple of days.  Here is the first one...

I used lots of new stuff to make this card...new stamps, new chipboard, new colors, and new Designer Paper!  I stamped the petals in Chocolate Chip craft ink on Soft Sky cardstock...and then embossed with Crystal Clear e.p.  I used some Soft Sky Designer Paper to cover the chipboard circle in the center of the flower (it's from the On Board Accents set).  I lightly sanded the edges to blend them in and added some Micro jewels for a little *sparkle*.  The heart chipboard (it's from the On Board Blossoms & Basics set) is embossed using Chocolate Chip craft ink and clear e.p.  I added a little circle that I punched out with a 1/8" hole punch to tie in all the "dots".  I just loooove polka dots!  Speaking of polka dots...there is a new Polka dot background stamp in the catalog...woohoo!  I could go on all day...

I do want to tell you about this ribbon, though.  I bought this ribbon some time ago from Lindsey (Jackson belle's Embellishments).  It is stunning!!  It matches our Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip perfectly!!  You can see it  Here.  It's double sided and is just amazing quality!  I really do like ordering from Jacksonbelle...her customer service is some of the best I've ever had!

I'm going to be posting a picture of the blog candy tonight!  I just need to finish uploading the pictures...so check back in later!  You won't want to miss it...I've compiled some of my "favorite" things and will be giving them away!  :-)

Recipe   Stamps: Pick a Petal, Hugs & Wishes   Paper: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Prints Designer paper in Soft Sky   Ink: Chocolate Chip craft pad, Clear e.p.   Other: On Board chipboard, Corner rounder (for scallops), Crofter's Tool Kit, jewels, 1/8" circle punch, ribbon

Get Better Flowers...

I'm home!  I love "getting away"...but I always enjoy coming home again (aside from the mountain of laundry that I've yet to do).

I made this card for today's Limited Supplies Challenge over at Splitcoast.  It was a toughie, too!  We are supposed to make a get well card but we can't use any flower stamps!!!  Can you believe it...me not use a flower stamp??  There is also a "list" of items we can and can't use.  We can use flower punches...so I thought the Three For You punch box would be perfect for a get well card.

This card measures 3 1/8 x 6 1/2 (perfect for the small open end envelopes).  The stamping is fairly simple so I added some free-handed paper piercing.

Brad weren't listed as items we could use (gasp!!) so I added some Lime Green Stickles (we could use adhesive...and Stickles is a glitter glue :-).  You can't see the sparkle very well in this picture...it's much prettier in real life!  I wanted the flowers to look a bit softer, so I layered a vellum flower over the Groovy Guava.

I will be working on getting the blog "goodies" together later this evening...so you'll want to stop back by!!!

Have a great afternoon!

Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Quick Thinking, Itty Bitty Backgrounds   Paper: Whisper White, vellum cardstock, Wild Wasabi, Groovy Guava   Ink: White craft pad, Versamark and Winter White e.p.   Other: Lime Green Stickles, Guava colored organdy polka dot ribbon, sm & lg oval punches, Flowers punch for the Three For You punch box, Crafter's Tool Kit

Artful River Rock...

Ever since I first laid eyes on the new IN color River Rock, I wanted to do something like this.  It's such a versatile color...it can be elegant, rustic, and what I have envisioned...crisp and clean!  Paired with white like this, it reminds me of crisp, clean khaki's paired with a white shirt.  I wanted a design with clean lines...and to keep it fairly simple.

Even  though this picture makes it look greenish (it does have some green undertones..but not as much as it looks like here), it really is more "khaki-ish" in real life.  I added just a touch of silver accents for some variety.

Well, I'll be home tonight and I'm going to get right to "work" getting some blog candy ready for you!  Thanks again, everyone, for all the encouragement!

Have a wonderful day!

Laurie

ETA:  Can you believe this card doesn't have any sparkle (Iridescent Ice e.p., glitter, or Stickles) or any jewels????  I didn't know I had it in me!  :-)

Recipe   Stamps: Artfully Asian, Fine Lace and Canvas Background stamps   Paper: Whisper White, River Rock   Ink: River Rock, Versamark and Silver e.p.   Other: Silver brads, silver cord, Stampin' Dimensionals, Crafter's Tool Kit, Zig painty marker (for silver dots in the flowers)

From the Heart...

I just love Chatterbox papers!  They are soooo gorgeous in real life...lots of beautiful texture!!  I've had some questions as to where I've purchased the Chatterbox papers.  I got mine from Eclectic Paperie.  They have a huge assortment of them (that's also where I've gotten a lot of my "jewels"). 

The stamping on this is very basic...but I was happy with the end result.  I used my Stampin Write markers to color on the stamp (I used a blender pen and my stamp pad for the Vintage Violet flowers).  I forget how beautiful this technique is...I can create "shading" very quickly.

I stamped the diamond pattern from Eclectic Backgrounds set using my Stamp-a-ma-Jig (I'm not so good at eyeballing these things).  I then took my Always Artichoke marker and added some "highlights" to the diamonds...I guess technically they would be lowlights???  LOL!  I wanted a softer look, so I layered a piece of vellum cardstock over the diamond pattern and stamped "from the heart" on top of the vellum in Vintage Violet.  Last but not least...I added some diamond Stickles to the white flowers on the patterned paper and a jewel in the center of the large flower.

I'm not sure why the picture makes the Vintage Violet stitched ribbon look like a different color...but in real life it matches perfectly!  :-)

Even though I'm still gone, I will have something new for you tomorrow!!  Thanks for coming by!

Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Eclectic Backgrounds, Stippled Stencils, Holidays & Wishes (from the upcoming new catalog)   Paper: Patterned paper by Chatterbox, Vintage Violet, Whisper White, Vellum cardstock   Ink: Certainly Celery, Vintage Violet, Always Artichoke and Old Olive Stampin Write Markers   Other: Vintage Violet stitched ribbon, Marvy scalloped square punch, Diamond Stickles, Blender pen, jewel