Just Give Me Stamps...

The Joy of Christmas...

Good morning!  I decided to add another Christmas card to my stash (in the hopes of actually being finished with them before December).

I used the Vintage Christmas Borders & Centers set (from JustRite) paired with some older Stampin' Up! patterned paper.  To color the ornaments, I used my Tombow markers and a water pen.  I then added just a touch of Stardust Stickles for a bit of sparkle.  :-)

 

For the inside, I embossed one of the sentiments from the Christmas Nested Semtiments & Verse (also from JustRite) using Black Onyx Versafine ink and Clear Detail embossing powder.

I cut/embossed the sentiment using the Curved Mega Rectangles Nestabilities.

Oh, and before I go...here is a little ENABLING for you!!  Stamper's Dream is having a ONE DAY SALE!  You can save an extra 10% off all sale merchandise!!  Just enter the code 10OffToday during checkout!!

Well, back to housework for me!  I'm trying to get ahead on my laundry while the boys are at school.  Hope your day is wonderful one!!  ~Laurie 

All Sorts of New Things...

Hi again!  It's the start of a new week (and check me out, all posting and stuff :-)!  Actually, there lots of new things going on around here!  After homeschooling all of our kids (well, youngest DS hasn't started school yet) since they've started school (a total of 9 years), we've made the decision to put our boys in public school.  There are many reasons why we've chosen to do this, but the main one is I don't think I can give them the time they need and continue our DD's therapy.  Living an hour away from town (one way) and having to go there 3-5 times a week really puts a strain on me and the kids.  Soooo, tomorrow (the first day of school) will be the beginning of a new adventure for all of us!   We will still be homeschooling our daughter (as her therapy schedule is not conducive to public school :-), but things will still be very different around here.

I've had many people mention to me that "they don't know how I do it" (homeschooling), but I have to tell you that I'm going to miss it.  A lot.  Nothing quite compares with the light and sparkle in my kids' eyes when they finally "get" a new concept...or the joy of watching them read their first words!!  Sniff... 

Speaking of new things, our weather is starting to turn cooler as well!  In fact, there is a chance of snow in the mountains (which is where I live) tonight!  Yep, Fall is headed our way!   

 
And, here is a "new" card inspired by our cooler weather!  I loved this week's Mojo Monday sketch (sketch #153), and thought it would be perfect for my card.

Oh, and here is something else new for me - NO patterned paper was used on this card!!!  I created my own "background paper" by stamping the plaid images from the Waltzingmouse Pic-Nic Patterns set.  I then stamped the small leaf from Blessed by You (also from Waltzingmouse Stamps) on top of my plaid pattern using Vintage Cream ink.

For the four focal images, I used the leaf/acorn image (also from the Blessed by You set) and added some punched hearts to the bottom one.

I guess that's enough "new" things for one post!  ((grin))  I'll be back tomorrow with another project for you to see!  ~Laurie

 
Stamps:  Blessed by You, Pic-Nic Patterns (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Paper:  Kraft, Spring Moss, Ocean Tides, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink:  Versamark, Vintage Cream (PTI), Crumb Cake (SU!)
Accessories:  Clear detail e.p., Heart punch, Sewing machine, Seam binding, Nestabilities, Button, Burlap string

You Make Good Times Great...

Hi again!  I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!  It's pretty lonely around here with DH and DD off to Switzerland.  Even my oldest DS is gone (over at a friends house for the weekend)!  It's just me and my two youngest DS's!!

Speaking of my sweet kiddos, I have a couple of photos to share with you!! 

 

Our friend Heiko (the AMAZING photographer that I told you about in THIS post) was here visiting again!  During his visit, he took some photos of our kids for DH to bring to his parents. 

 

This photo cracks me up so much!!  THIS truly is a good representation of my boys!!  Heiko mentioned that it was pretty tough to get good photos of these guys...because they were always doing stuff like this!!  LOL!!!  Ah well, it keeps life interesting around here!!  ((giggle))

So...how would you like to see a card?  You know...since this is a stamping blog and all!  LOL!  Seriously though, thanks for indulging me while I share about my family!

 

With half of my family gone right now, I have now found an abundance of time on my hands!!  This card is one of the products of that extra time...  LOL!

I used Verve's new Great Friend set along with some misc. goodies I had sitting on my desk.  It's hard to see in the picture, but I embossed the larger of the leaves images using clear embossing powder directly onto the plaid background paper.

In this close-up picture, you can see the Cinnamon Stickles I added to the center of the flower (along with the pearl). 

Well, my boys are occupied with coloring right now...so I'm going to high tail it to my stamp room!!  I'll be back tomorrow with something new to share!

Hugs, Laurie

You are the Sunshine of My Soul...

Good morning!  By the time you read this, I am on my way to drop my sweet daughter and DH at the airport.  Oh, how I will miss both of them while they are gone...but I am so glad they get to go and see DH's parents!  I am one of those rare people that ADORE my in-laws!!  They are such kind hearted and just all around amazing people!! 

I'm also hoping by slipping some cards in their suitcases...it will remind both DH and DD to bring me home some Swiss chocolate!!  Teehehehee!

This is one of the cards that I made for the latest Verve Release.  I plan on slipping this card into my DD's suitcase (I have a different one for DH) for her to find on her trip!

I used Verve's new Happy Hello to stamp the center of the paper sun I created...as well as the circles along the bottom of the notebook page.  I also added three coordinating rhinestones on the left (I just had to sneak in some bling somewhere)!

Thanks for stopping by!!  ~Laurie

Stamps: Happy Hello
Paper: Out & About patterned paper and c.s. (We R Memory Keepers), Basic White (Basic Grey), Vellum c.s.
Ink: Basic Gray (Stampin' up!), Versamark, Chamomile Vintage Ink (PTI), Tuxedo Black Memento Ink
Accessories: Black Detail e.p., Notebook punch (Stampin' Up!), Script Cuttlebug embossing folder, Rope (Stampin' Up!), Sewing machine, Copic markers, Rhinestones

Get Well Soon...

Today, I've got a sweet little card using one of the sweet little Pure Innocence girls!

 
Recently a friend of mine had surgery, so I was in need of a little pick-me-up card for her.  That's when I remembered this super sweet little girl from the Better Get Better set (from My Favorite Things)!  After coloring her in with Copic markers, I paired up the image with some Fly a Kite patterned paper (from October Afternoon).

Oh...and I used a fun new toy on this card as well!!  Do you see that pretty felt flower??  I made that!!  How uber fun is that!!??!!  I used the new Sizzix 3-D Flowers die!!  I think I might be addicted!!  It was so fun!  Oh...I also used my new Tim Holtz Alterations Die - Brackets on the Edge to create that cool design on the bottom of the brown polka dot paper!! 

Well, that's all from me today!  I'll be back tomorrow with more to share!  :-)

~Laurie