Just Give Me Stamps...

A Western Merry Christmas...

Last night, it started snowing right after dinner time here.  It was the really big, gorgeous flakes....the kind that not only sticks, but accumulates pretty quickly!  It definitely helped to put me into the Christmas card making "spirit"!  I don't know about you guys, but I make several different types of Christmas cards.  Some, I make pretty elaborate (which also equals time consuming)...some are fairly simple (easy to mass produce)...and others are somewhere in between.  Well, last night I was working on the easier ones.  I wanted something that could be easily mass produced, but still "pretty"!  :-)  As I was in the middle of creating...my DH came over to see.  I could tell right away that he wasn't too pleased...hehehee.  He was trying so hard to find a way to tactfully say, "Can't you make something a little less 'girly'"?  So, I started another one...definitely less "girly".  I do plan on using both types. (I will share the "girly" one with you tomorrow)

 

I had the hardest time making this card!!  I kept trying to add ribbon...then talking myself out of it (after all it was supposed to be "manly"), then trying to add ribbon...then talking myself out of it.  LOL!!  Finally I decided on the two brads.  I still think it would look "prettier" with ribbon!  ROFLOL!!  My DH was pleased, though.  I can promise you that the "girly" card I'll share with you tomorrow definitely has some ribbon!!!!

Because this is a pretty simple card, the stamping is pretty straight forward.  If you do have any questions about anything on this, please email me.

Have a wonderful Friday!!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Wanted, All Holidays, Sanded   Paper: Naturals Ivory, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip   Ink: Chocolate Chip (Classic and craft), Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand   Other: 1/2" circle punch, Crafter's Tool Kit, Vintage brads

Reaching For The Stars....

Happy Thursday!  We just got back from a little trip out of town.  All three of our sons see a specialist in a city about 5 1/2 hours away (for the same kidney issues).  Well, we had a GREAT visit!!  Our oldest son had surgery to correct his problem a couple of years ago, but our younger two were being watched for the same condition.  The great news is that they are both getting better!  Woohoo!  Actually, our middle son (he's almost 4) is completely normal now!  This is just so exciting for us...it seems like we've been to SO many of these appointments with SO many tests.  Anyway...that's our wonderful news!!  Also, while we were away, our oldest son celebrated his 9th birthday!  I just cannot tell you how amazing he is!  I just feel SO blessed to have such wonderful children!!!

After unpacking, starting laundry (does that job ever end???), and getting the kids back on track with school...I found some time to stamp!  Today's Ways To Use It Challenge is to use metallic cardstock.  Well, I love all things shiny and sparkly...so I just had to play!

I started with a 5 1/2 x 3 Basic Black card base.  I ran the metallic gold cardstock through the Cuttlebug using the Script embossing folder.  The stamping is actually very simple, but I really wanted the sentiment to be the focal point.  I just love all of the sentiments in the Starlight Starbright set by Verve Visual!  They are so unique and uplifting! 

Here is a close up of the sentiment...

I hope you all have a wonderful day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Starlight Starbright (Verve Visual)   Paper: Basic Black, Metallic gold c.s.   Ink: Versamark   Other: Gold e.p., Paper piercer, Gold edged black organdy ribbon, Script embossing folder, Cuttlebug

A Merry Little Nugget Box...

After checking out the Technique Challenge over at SCS this morning...I just knew I had to make time to play!!  I got my laundry done, chores finished, and school work corrected in record time!!!  LOL!!  The challenge is to make a clear slider for a nugget box!  What a great idea!!!  Well, I got to thinking about this...instead of stamping on it with my White Stazon pad...I wondered if I could emboss it with my crop-a-dile???!!!?  Guess what???  It works!!!!!!!  Woohooo!  Now, the acetate that I used is some heavier stuff that I recently received from Ellen Hutson's store.  I don't know if the thinner stuff will work with this or not...but maybe I'll try it later.

Sorry for the huge picture...I just couldn't get it to resize correctly in my editing program.

For a refresher on how to emboss using the Crop-a-Dile, check out THIS tutorial that Beate did on her Blog Fresh & Fun.

For all sorts of Nugget Box patterns, check out  THIS post on SCS.

Here is a close up of the box... so you can see the embossed dots better.

Here is a close up of the gift card.  The finished size is a 3 x 3 square.  Just a quick tip on poking brads through ribbon - I use just a little bit of adhesive to hold the ribbon together...and then use my paper piercer and foam pad to poke a hole in the folded ribbon.  This really reduces the "fraying" that you get when punching holes in the ribbon.

Have a great Monday!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: All Holidays, Snow Flurries   Paper: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Old Olive, Fall Flowers DP   Ink: Soft Sky, Old Olive   Other: Acetate, Rhinestones, Rhinestone brad, Circle punches, White taffeta ribbon

Fabulous Wintergreen Mum...

Happy Sunday!  I just love this time of year!  So much going on...but the energy and fun of it all keeps me from being completely exhausted!  LOL!!  All three of our sons have birthdays (two in November and one in December) so it is especially busy around here!  :-)  My oldest son's birthday is on Wednesday (he's going to be 9) but we will have his party on Saturday.  I try not to get all of the Christmas stuff out until after his party (you know...one thing at a time...LOL).  So, next Sunday we will go up into the mountains and cut our Christmas tree.  I have to admit, this year...I can hardly wait!!  So...with Christmas on my mind...I just had to make another Christmas card!  LOL!!

Today's Featured Stamper Challenge features TexasGrammy (her SCS username).  When I saw THIS card in her gallery, I knew right away that it was the one I wanted to case!!  I just LOVE this layout!!

It's been way too long since I've had this flower out...heheheee!  I embossed the flower with White e.p. on Certainly Celery c.s. three different times.  I cut out each one (in different places) and layered them on top of each other for a 3-Dimensional look.  I layered some Vellum c.s. over the Celery Snowflake patterned paper to soften it up a bit.  The rest is pretty self explanatory.  I just love this patterned paper...the colors are so wonderful together!

Well, I'm off to get a head start on tomorrow's laundry!  I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Fabulous Flowers, Party Punch   Paper: Whisper White, Vellum c.s., Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Wintergreen DP   Ink: Versamark, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke   Other: White e.p., 5/8" Celery grosgrain ribbon, Rhinestones

Time Spent With Friends...

I finally had some time to play with my Time Well Spent set!  This set (a level 3 Hostess set in the upcoming Spring/Summer catalog) has such a different feel than the hostess sets in the past.  This makes me very excited to see what the whole catalog looks like!  I'm so glad that Stampin' Up! chose to have two new catalogs a year verses the past one catalog per year.  It's about this time that I get "antsy" for new stamps and fresh ideas.  Just a few more weeks to wait!

I came across an amazing "find" the other day.  One of our local stores (mainly a drugstore but they also sold some gift/scrapbooking supplies) is closing out everything in their store except the pharmacy.  As I was browsing around, I spotted this HUGE box of K & Co. patterned paper!  Yes, I said 'box'!!  There is something like 200 sheets in there.  Woohoo!  Being the paper "junkie" that I am, I just had to have it (after all...it was on clearance)!!! 

I started with a Cool Caribbean 5 1/4" square card base (am I the only one that misses this color???) and layered some black, old olive, & K & Co patterned paper on it.  The scalloped rectangle was made with my rectangle Nestabilities (Debbie Olson is SUCH an enabler )!! 

I just had to get me some of these after seeing all the amazing stuff she has done with them!!

The main sentiment and flower are both stamped on Shimmery White c.s. and colored in with ink pads and a watercolor brush.  I added just a little bit of Stickles to the flowers.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Time Well Spent   Paper: Shimmery White c.s., Cool Caribbean, Old Olive, Basic Black, K & Co. Patterned paper   Ink: Palette Noir, Cool Caribbean, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive   Other: Black organdy ribbon, Black buttons, Rectangle Nestabilities, Stickles, Black Sakura glaze pen, Crafter's Tool Kit