Just Give Me Stamps...

Sketch Time!

Happy Saturday!!  I have a quick post for you today... 

Today is my last week to host the Our Creative Corner challenges, and I thought a sketch would be a fun way to end the month!  You can see the sketch HERE.

I used the new You Are the Potter set from Our Daily Bread Designs combined with some pretty papers from S.E.I. (you can't see from the photo, but the papers have a subtle sheen to them).

 

If you think there is something different about the vellum I used, you're right!  I really wish you could all see this in real life, because then you could see the gorgeous pattern this vellum has! 

You can see all the cards the OCC DT came up with, the sketch, as well as a little surprise Jennifer has for those that play along this week over at the OCC blog.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!  ~Laurie

Spring Monochromatic Card...

Happy Thursday!  It's time for another Stamper's Dream Challenge...and this month we are to make a Monochromatic card.  Well, I happen to love monochromatic cards (almost as much as I love vellum)!  :-)

I thought I would pull out my Spring Fling set (by Pink Paislee), since it was just begging to be inked up!!  In keeping with the Spring theme, I chose pink as my color and white as my neutral. 

 

I know what you're thinking...that this is not my "usual" style, and you're right!  I almost can't believe it myself!!  Heehehee!  I wanted to go more "clean", so I kept my layers to a minimum, and used more white than color.  For embellishments, I added some buttons, rhinestones, butterflies (from a butterfly punch), and some rope (I actually bought this from my grocery store). 

You can see what the other Stamper's Dream girls have created here: Charmaine, Cindy, Denise, Kim, Michelle, & Tosha.  Oh, and if you would like to play along, Michelle is offering up a chance to win some goodies!

Thanks for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Spring Fling (Pink Paislee)   Paper:  Neenah White, Pink Prism c.s. trio, My Mind's Eye (Tiny Dancer)   Ink: Versamark, Rose Red   Other: White e.p., Clear e.p., Butterfly punch, Rhinestones, Buttons, Paper piercer, Rope

OCC Tag Challenge...

 Happy Saturday!  Today, I have a special card to share with you.  This week's Our Creative Corner challenge, is to create a card with a tag somewhere on the front of it.  I decided to make mine for my daughter, Alison.

We are leaving early tomorrow morning to head back to Seattle, where the doctors will operate on Ali.  She is a little nervous (after all, it is brain surgery...), but mostly she is so glad to possibly put this behind her soon!  Through this whole trial, two things has remained constant...her faith and her joy!  She is one of those people that almost always has a smile on her face...and it's genuine!  I cannot even tell you what a treasure she is to us, and how blessed we are to even know her!  So, this card is a "just because" kind of card.  "Just Because" she is so: brave, strong, kind, full of life, beautiful, faithful, tenacious, and fun-loving!

I often ask Ali her opinion on my cards...which papers I should use, which ribbon she thinks looks better, should I add some Dew Drops (she almost always says "yes" to that LOL!), and so I thought I could get her opinion on some "fun and hip" papers without her knowing why!  Teehehehe!  So, that's exactly what I did!  She chose this slightly funky paper from Basic Grey (Phoebe Collection), and paired it with some subtle patterned paper from Crate Paper.  As soon as she left, I got to work!

I felt like this quote (from Verve Stamp's Hundred Hearts set) said exactly how we feel, so I wanted to showcase it as the focal point of the card.  I used my Long Rectangle Nestabilities to create my "tag", and layered it over some vellum c.s., Pink ric-rac, and a large heart.  I added some whimsical stitching, ribbon, flowers, Dew Drops, and a swanky little crown charm!

Be sure to check out wha the other OCC girlies created:  Amy, Cindy Haffner, Dawn Easton, Jackie Pedro, Jennifer Meyer, Julee Tilman, Kim Teasdale, Laurie Schmidlin, Lori Boyd, Lynda Benden, and Silke Ledlow.  Also, a big thanks to this week's guest designer - Rose Ann Reynolds!!

Even though I'll be gone, I've got some WAY fun things to share with you!  :-)  I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Hundred Hearts (Verve Stamps)   Paper: Vellum c.s., White, Suede Brown Dark Prism c.s., Basic Grey Phoebe Collection, Crate Paper   Ink: Burnt Umber (Palette)   Other: Nestabilities, Heart Nestabilities, Ribbon, Dew Drops, Prima flower, Crown charm, Sewing Machine, Fibers

Newer Every Day...

Happy Friday!!  Here I am, posting this week's Weekend Sketch Challenge!!  Feels just like "old times" doesn't it?  LOL!!  I am SO glad Beate is back with her sketches...it just makes creating so much easier!  :-)

I was in need of a birthday card, and thought this week's sketch was perfect for it!  A friend of our family is turning 88 years old soon.  She is an incredibly kind, humble, energetic person, with such a profound wisdom and has blessed our family in many ways!  Because I wanted her card to be special, I reached for one of Rubbersoul's "Wordsworth Remembering" line (I chose theDickinson collection).  I love quotes, and these stamps showcase some of my favorite ones!

   

I embossed the quote onto Pearlized Cream cardstock, added a subtle flourish (also from the Dickinson Collection), and layered it onto a vellum panel.  Instead of using another strip of cardstock, I placed a strip of ribbon below the quote.  The flourishy edge of the patterned paper (by Sassafrass Lass) is actually part of the paper!!  I LOVE it!!  The cream cardstock on the right, is actually the inside of the card...which I also decorated!  :-)

     

I used some of the same elements from the front, but changed the rectangle to an oval.

For more eye candy, check out what these talented ladies have created:  Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Lori, Mary Jo, & Sharon!

Thanks for visiting!!  Have a wonderful Friday! ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Dickinson Collection (Rubbersoul)   Paper: Pearlized Cream c.s., Prism Blush c.s., Vellum, Sassafrass Lass patterned paper   Ink: Chooclate Chip, Versamark, Antique Linen Distress Ink, Cameo Coral   Other: Clear detail e.p., Nestabilities, Paper piercer, Buttons, Ribbon, Corner Rounder punch

Spring is in the Air...

Well, not here exactly...but somewhere I'm sure it is!!  LOL!  Spring is a long way off for us, but that actually makes me want to surround myself with beautiful Spring colors even more!  :-)  I have a couple of projects to share with you today...both of them very Spring-y!

The first project is a trio of Spring tags...perfect for Easter, Birthday, or Mother's Day gifts!

   

I stamped the large flower from I Am the Way (Our Daily Bread Designs) on to watercolor paper, water-colored using re-inkers, and mounted onto a "tag" that I made with my Curvy Rectangle Nestabilities.  The patterned paper is some glittery paper by My Mind's Eye - Laundry Line (I tired so hard for it to show up...but I'm not that good of a photographer), and the butterfly is a jeweled brad by Creative Imaginations.

This next card uses the same I Am the Way set, but this time I made an Easter card!

 

I used some Memory Box Provence patterned paper, and pulled the soft lavender and cocoa colors from it.  After coloring the flower with Copics, I added another flower (also colored with Copics) and popped it up.  You can barely see the shimmer, but I painted the flower with Angel Wings Shimmerz.  I tell ya, I LOVE that stuff!!  I was pleasantly surprised that even though it is a thin liquid, it dries quickly and does not warp the cardstock!  You should have seen me looking around my stamp room, trying to find something else that I could try this stuff out on!!  Heehehee!  You know how I feel about shimmery/sparkly stuff!  Mmmm, mmmm!  I finished off my card, with some stitching, ribbon, and some Dew Drops.

I have been receiving some VERY fun new stamps, and I can't wait to show you what I making with them!! 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a wonderful day!  ~Laurie