Just Give Me Stamps...

Back to "Basics"...

Happy Saturday!  AND...happy March!!  You all are probably tired of hearing me say this...but can you believe it's already MARCH???!!  Wasn't it just Christmas?  LOL!

Today is the release date for three brand new Verve Visual sets! 

Julee (owner of Verve), challenged the Design Team to make a "Back to Basics" card.  In a nutshell, it's a card that is an "un-complicated, easy to reproduce card that uses techniques/ideas that we loved when we first started to stamp".  Something that I was immediately drawn to when I first started stamping, was monochromatic cards.  Not only are they very visually appealing to me, but they are great for someone who doesn't have ALL of the stamping pads and papers known to man yet!  LOL!

This card is stamped with the new Thankful Blossoms set.  I chose Real Red as my "color" and white as my "neutral".  For those of you that are new to the term monochromatic...it just means "to have or to appear to have only one color".  I've always know what it means...generally..but thought I'd look it up for the correct wording.  I have to tell you that I just LOVE that they included "or appear to have"!!!  LOL!!!  Now THAT would be a challenge...make a many colored card that "appeared" to have only one!  LOL!    I used embellishments that I had on hand when I was first starting out...ribbon, buttons, & thread (what most people would have in a sewing box).  The piercing is something that I have just recently picked up (like in the last year or two) but again, you could use a needle, which most people already have as well.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamp: Thankful Blossoms (Verve Visual)   Paper: Whisper White, Real Red   Ink:  Real Red   Accessories:  Red gingham ribbon, Real Red buttons, Thread, Paper piercer

A Pomegranate Sketch...

Happy Friday!!!  I hope you all are having a great week!  I had so much fun with this week's sketch for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge!

 

When I first started to put this card together, I was going to use Purely Pomegranate, White, & Basic Black.  The black just felt too "dramatic" and even a bit harsh for this flower card.  I was digging around in my file cabinet to see which color would look good instead of the black when I saw Basic Gray.  I have no idea why I don't use this color more...I really like it!

The main flower is colored with Copic markers, and all of the little flowers have Pale Pink rhinestones (by Hero Arts) in the centers of them.

My card is really pretty simple...but I'm pleased with the way it turned out.  I think the reason I like it so much is that the Basic Gray really gives it the look I was hoping to achieve!

Make sure you check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have created for this sketch!

Have a wonderful Friday...and weekend!!!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: One of a Kind, Stitched background stamp   Paper: Whisper White, Stamper's Select, Purely Pomegranate, Basic Gray   Ink: White craft, Basic Gray, Purely Pomegranate   Other:   Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware, Dbl stitched Pomegranate ribbon, Nestabilities, Build a Brad, Rhinestones, Corner Rounder punch, Copic markers

You Know You're Old When...

Happy Thursday!!  This post is definitely later than I planned on!  Calving this year is certainly more difficult than usual!  I'm actually only doing errands and other odd jobs for my DH...and he's doing all of the hard work!  I do try to make sure he has lots of snacks and "goodies" to much on...as he has been pulling some all nighters lately.  Although I DO feel sorry for him....it does kind of remind me of what I did when our children were babies!  LOL!

  Anyway...on to my card!  :-)  My Sister-in-law's birthday is coming up pretty soon.  She is such a fun person with a great sense of humor...so I felt like she would really get a kick out of these hilarious "You Know You're Old When..." stamps by Gina K!   I stamped the image with Adirondack Pitch Black onto Stamper's Select cardstock and colored it with Copic markers.  I added some Diamond Stickles to the car...because...well, I just thought it needed to be "spruced" up a little!  :-)  (The stamp set and the Stickles can all be found at Stamper's Dream store.)

I wanted to keep the colors "vintage" looking.  I thought this particular print of patterned paper (from Cosmo Cricket's Hey Sugar line) could look a bit like old fashioned wallpaper!  LOL!

I added some embellishments, sponging, sewing, and some ribbon (to keep the card closed).

Here is a picture of the inside of the card.  I lined the inside flap with some sponged Sage Shadow and then used my Marvy Oval punches for the sentiment on the right.

I don't know what is going on...but I cannot seem to get a decent picture of my projects lately!!!  Ugh!  I don't know if it's the colors I'm using...or the lighting (but I haven't changed that)...or what, but I certainly hope this "poor picture" streak won't last!

I'll be back tomorrow with a card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge!  I hope you all enjoy your evening!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: You Know You're Old When (Gina K)   Paper: Stamper's Select, Sage Shadow, Marigold Morning, Hey Sugar patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket)   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black   Accessories: Copic markers, Prima Flowers, Build-a-brad, Diamond Stickles, Nestabilities, Oval punches, Sewing machine, Organdy ribbon

Easter Elegance...

Good morning!  I'm so excited to share today's post with you!!  Today is the first day of the "Sneak Peek Blitz" over at the Verve Visual blog!  Just WAIT until you see these sets!!!!  Oh man!!  Today, Easter Elegance is being showcased.  There are three samples posted with this set!  Tomorrow and Friday will showcase another new set (YES!  that's a total of three new sets) that will be released on March 1st.

There isn't an image in the Easter Elegance set that I don't absolutely LOVE!  The only problem I had was choosing which one to use first!  LOL!  I chose the Easter eggs first, because I really wanted to try this idea I had.  When I first saw these eggs, I thought that they are so pretty...and that they should be displayed in a basket!  :-)  I didn't have a basket stamp...so I made my own!  LOL!

I started by "weaving" 3/8" pieces of white cardstock strips.  After I had a a large enough area woven, I glued on a piece of white cardstock (one that I had precut to 2" x 3" and rounded the bottom corners on) onto the weaved strips.  Once the glue was dry (I used Tombow Multi Adhesive) I trimmed off the longer woven strips around the edges of the basket shaped cardstock.  The glue also helped to kept the woven strips in place.  For the "finishing touch" I sponged the edges of the basket just a little to add some depth and create a bit of a shadow.

After my basket was made, I glued some of that crimped paper (that comes in a large bag) that is used to stuff baskets with to the backside of my basket.  Then I "filled" it up with these gorgeous Easter eggs!!

Also...I just wanted you to know...that I am super behind on my emails!!  I will answer them, I promise!  :-)  Along with helping my daughter (who is now recovering very well) calving is in full swing here on the ranch...and every spare moment I have I am helping my DH. 

I hope you all have an amazing day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps:  Easter Elegance (Verve Visual), Polka Dots (Stampin' Up!)   Paper: Soft Sky, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)   Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Soft Sky, Almost Amethyst, Blush Blossom, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up!)   Accessories:   White e.p., White taffeta ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Buttons (Basic Grey Two Scoops Collection)

This Hug's For You...

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a good weekend!  Well, not only did I get that nap I was hoping for...I got 2  more as well!!  LOL!  Every time I put my little ones down for a nap, I took one too!  I think I am now completely caught up on all that sleep I missed out on the last several weeks.  Woohooo!  It's just amazing what getting some sleep can do for the energy level!!  Heheee!  Not only did I get all my chores done this morning, lunch and dinner made, helped my DH, & baked some goodies...but I found some time to stamp!  Yay!

 

The technique Challenge today was to combine two or more different patterned papers together.  I LOVE to do this...so I couldn't resist playing along!

I stamped this adorable monkey (from the CC Designs set Monkey Love available from All That Scraps) onto watercolor paper using Palette Burnt Umber ink.  I then colored him in using Prismacolor Pencils and blending it with Baby Oil.

After using my Circle Nestabilities to cut/emboss the circles, I sponged all of the edges with Antique Linen Distress ink.  I punched out a 1/2" circle of the patterned paper (the same pattern as I used for the bottom layer) and put that in a Brass Build-A-Brad.  The Brown textured ribbon is some I got from Jody (TexasJodyLynn) during one of her ribbon shares.  The peach-ish ribbon with brown edges is from Martha Stewart's line.

This card will be going to a good friend of mine...who just LOVES monkeys!!!!  I can't wait for her to get it!!!

It's been so long since I've participated in a Color Challenge...but I'm planning on it tomorrow!  Woohoo!  I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamp:  Monkey Love (CC Designs)   Paper: K & Co Patterned paper, Watercolor paper, Close to Cocoa   Ink: Palette Burnt Umber   Other: Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil, Brass Build-A-Brad, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Corner Rounder punch, Paper piercer