Just Give Me Stamps...

Quilted Abundant Blessings...

I'm back!  I know, I know...long time no post!  :-)  Sometimes life just gets so busy that I feel like I have to run just to keep up (and stamping time is usually a figment of my imagination)!  Also, my daughter has been pretty sick, so I have had my hands full taking care of her.  The good news is that we think we've finally found some medicine that helps, so things are looking up!  I also have not even had a chance to wade through my email....so if you haven't heard back from me yet, I will write back...it will just take me a few days.  :-)

After not stamping for quite a while, it felt good to be back in my "special room" (as my two year old son calls it LOL!)!!  I stamped this for Verve's September "Gettin' Krafty" Project Parade Challenge! 

    

I just LOVE the versatility of kraft c.s....so it was only natural (pun intended LOL!!!) to pair it with my newest favorite Verve set Abundant Blessings!  I embossed the silhouette flowers (from the Abundant Blessings set) using Chocolate Chip craft ink and Clear detail e.p.  I added some "filler" using another one of the silhouette stamps inked in Sahara Sand.  To create the quilted background, I lightly drew pencil lines at 1" intervals (mostly because I couldn't sew a straight line on my own if my life depended on it LOL!).  I then stitched along the lines and afterward erased any leftover pencil markings.  To finish the card, I added some Dew Drops, a sentiment tag, and a scalloped lace bottom edge.

You can play along...and be entered to win $15 in Verve Bucks!  Just link your creation to THIS post at the Verve blog by September 30th! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Abundant Blessings   Paper: Lemon Tart, Stamper's Select White, Kraft, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey)   Ink: Chocolate Chip craft, Sahara Sand, White craft (Stampin' Up!)   Other: Clear detail e.p., Nestabilities, Spellbinder's Tag Trio, Scallop lace punch (Martha Stewart), Sewing Machine, Scor-Pal, Lemon Tart Satin ribbon (Papertrey), Natural hemp

Calendars For a GREAT Cause!

I'm SO excited to share the following projects with you for a couple of reasons!  One, they benefit a very worthy cause (more about that below)...and two, well...they are soooo fun!!  I'm talking bout the 2008-2009 A Muse Calendars!!

Last year, Linda Carnell, owner of A Muse, designed a calendar to raise funds for Scleroderma Research, an illness her mother suffers from.  The project was so successful, that she was determined to expand the variety of calendars, and find another great cause to support!

In honor of Victoria Nelson, an avid fan of A Muse, who is undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s Disease, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this year’s calendar will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

This year’s Calendar features 16 months and includes Sept 2008 through December 2009.  It also includes a perpetual calendar which is great for keeping track of birthdays and anniversaries.  The calendar has been designed in several different sizes.

There are THREE donation levels per calendar.  The minimum donation is $4 per calendar, but, there is also an option to donate $10 or $20 for each version.

 

 

I just love the versatility of these calendars!!  For my first sample, I used the Perpetual Calendar (square format) to create an important dates notebook.

 

 

 

Here is a picture of one of the inside pages.

 

 

 

When I first saw these calendars, I thought it would be fun to just print just one month and use it on a card...for an invitation or even a birthday card!  Here, I used it for a Halloween party invite and just highlighted the 31st!  :-)

 

 

 

What a wonderful way to create fun gifts and projects for friends and family (and even yourself :-) while contributing to a great cause as well!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you enjoy your Monday!  ~Laurie

Recipe (first project)   Stamps: Cow, Party Time (A Muse)   Paper: Neenah Natural White, Dark Chocolate, Berry Sorbet (Papertrey Inc.),   Ink:   Chocolate Chip craft ink   Other: A Muse square Calendar, Bind it All, Berry Sorbet ribbon, Nestabilities, Copic markers

Recipe (second project)   Stamps: Trick or Sweet (Stamp a Sweet Impression by Taylored Expressions), Mini Oval (A Muse)   Paper: Stamper's Select White (Papertrey), Stampin' Up! Halloween DP, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie   Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Pumpkin Pie, Going Gray   Other:  Black Sticles, A-2 card size calendar from A Muse, Ribbon, Brads, Crystal Effects

OCC Sketch Challenge...

Happy Saturday!  Today's Our Creative Corner Challenge is a wonderful sketch designed by Amy (this month's hostess).

I knew that I wanted to use the new Hope set from Our Daily Bread Designs, but I took quite a while to decide on colors.  :-)  I kept gravitating towards more "vintage" colors but tried to tell myself that hope ribbons aren't vintage!  LOL!  Well, as you can see, I wasn't very effective...  LOL!  I really just couldn't help myself! 

 

I ended up using some of my all time favorite patterned paper (by K & Co.)...and ink distressing all of the edges.  After I thought about it...I realized that the colors are pretty to look at, but it's the wonderful and life giving message that really counts!  I really love this set...and have used it many times already.  There are just so many people that are in need of hope!  This particular card is going to Kelley's friend, Sandy...who is battling liver and colon cancer.  You can read more about Sandy on Kelley's blog.

To see the sketch and all of the OCC designer's cards, please visit the OCC blog!

I hope you all have a blessed Saturday!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Hope (Our Daily Bread Designs), Frames with a Flourish   Paper: Pearlized Cream c.s., Dark Chocolate (Papertrey), Patterned paper (K & Co.)   Ink: Chocolate Chip craft ink, Close to Cocoa, Antique Linen Distress ink, Bordering Blue, Baja Breeze   Accessories: Clear detail e.p., Dew Drops, Primas, Ribbon, Sewing Machine, Decorative brad, Scallop border punch, Paper piercer

A Ten Minute Card...

Whew!  I'm finally able to post my Weekend Sketch Challenge card!  Two of my kiddos are not feeling well, so I've been busy taking care of them.  On the bright side, I've gotten lots of cuddles...something I don't usually get from my "too-busy-to-sit-still-for-even-a-second" two year old son!  :-)

When everyone was resting, I slipped away to stamp.  I paired some of this new patterned paper (by Martha Stewart) with Beate's Weekend Sketch # 57.  (Yes, I'm late in posting this....soooo bad, I know!  :-)  The sentiment and flower are from Verve Stamp's Floral Whimsy set.

   

Looking for for more inspiration for this sketch?  Check out what Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon have made...you will surely be inspired!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Floral Whimsy   Paper: Shimmery White c.s., Dark Chocolate (Papertrey), Martha Stewart patterned paper   Ink: Chocolate Chip (Classic & Craft)   Other: Nestabilities, Dark Chocolate polka-dot ribbon (Papertrey), Clear e.p., Decorative brads

And Mark it With a "B"...

Happy Friday!  I've got a lot of fun stuff to show you today!  When I first started thinking about what to make with my JustRite stamps, I jotted some notes down...and I actually ended up with quite a list (and I will be trying most of them out at one point or another)!   It wasn't until last week that I finally decided on a project...and it wasn't even on my "list"!  LOL!  I was in town doing some errands and my five year old son, Bryan, pointed excitedly to the "B" on the side of the mountain saying, "Look Mom, it's B...B for Bryan"!!!  This isn't the first time he's done this...in fact, he usually points this out every trip into town...all with the same excitement!  LOL!  Well, this got me thinking about how much he loves the letter B.  He just started kindergarten this year, and although he isn't officially "reading", he does know a lot of his letters and what they say...particularly the first letters of everyone in our family!  :-)  On our way home (which is an hour away from town), Bryan was coloring in a coloring book to help pass the time.  That's when it hit me!!  We will be going to Switzerland this year to visit my husband's family...which means a looooong airplane trip.  I knew right then that I wanted to make a little "travel kit" for him...and mark everything with the letter "B"!!  :-)

  This is the gift bag I made to hold all the goodies.  I used some Crate Paper (Zoom Collection) to cover a plain ol' brown lunch bag and create a tag (which is detachable so it can later be used as a bookmark).

  This picture show the notebook cover I made...the box of crayons...and the absolutely essential (at least for air travel) gum.  :-)

  In this picture, you can see a little bag of "coins" that I made a topper for.  Every traveler needs money right?  (Even if they are chocolate...hehehee!)  I also created a "dog tag" for this adorable stuffed doggie...with a "B" on it of course!

Here is a picture of the whole ensemble...and yes, that is a LOT of "B"s!  LOL!  I love that this didn't take very long...but will for sure be appreciated!  :-)  Michelle has lots of fun new JustRite products in stock...and don't forget about the FREE C-45 Monogram Stamper that she is giving away on her blog!!  Also...make sure to check out what Tosh comes up with tomorrow!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  ~Laurie