Just Give Me Stamps...

SCS Flood Relief NON-Raffle...

The folks at Splitcoast have put together a "non" raffle to benefit the families effected by the Midwest floods.  Living in Montana...seemingly far from any kind of flooding...it's so hard for me to imagine the devastation that they are living through.  Seeing the pictures on the news and reading about it in the papers has revealed enough for me to know that it truly is horrific.  My heart goes out to those that know first hand just how devastating these floods have been.  I am so proud to belong to a community that cares for each other like the amazing people at Splitcoast do!  When I was asked if I wanted to donate something for the non-raffle, I couldn't say yes fast enough!  You can read all about how this works HERE! 

 

This is the ensemble that I put together for the raffle.  It includes 8 gift cards, a gift box, and a brand new Elegant Notes stamp set (from Stampin' Up!).  For the cards and box, I paired some of my all time favorite paper (Blue Awning by K & Co.) with one of my favorite Stampin' Up! sets.

 

There are SO many FANTASTIC prizes that have been donated...many of them handstamped!!  You can check them all out in THIS gallery set up especially for this benefit.

Thanks for stopping by!  ~Laurie

ATC - Verve Style!

The Project Parade (over at the Verve blog) this month is to make an ATC (Artist Trading Card).  Well, this had me shakin' in my boots...because I've only ever made one in my whole life!  I don't know what it is exactly about these small cards that is so intimidating to me....hmmmm....  Anyway, I discovered that it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be...and I'm actually really pleased with the end result!  :-) 

Because of the limited space to work with, I chose to use one of Verve's awesome sentiments (I chose this "Untie the Ribbons" quote from the Asian Flair set) to be the focal piece.  I paired it up with this paper from S.E.I....with all it's pre-glittered yummy-ness!  For embellishments, I added some rhinestones, a fun corner treatment (I embossed one of the circle images from the Asian Flair set and added it on top of a punched out photo corner), and of course...some ribbon!  :-)  I mounted it all on to a piece of metallic brown c.s. that I had cut/embossed with one of my rectangle Nestabilities.

If you want to play along...you can read all about the details HERE.  There will be two winners that will receive $15 each in Verve Bucks! 

Thanks for visiting!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Asian Flair   Paper: Metallic brown c.s., Pirouette Pink, Patterned paper, Shimmery White c.s.   Ink: Versamark   Other: Copper e.p., Rectangle and Mega rectangle Nestabilities, 3/4" circle punch, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, Rhinestones, Photo corner punch

Untie the Ribbons...

Happy Wednesday!  Are you all enjoying the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges?  I'm hoping to get to participate in some more this afternoon!  :-)

I have a couple of cards to share with you.  The first one I actually made a while ago, and the second one I put together quickly (as soon as I received the new Papertrey Dark Chocolate goodies (paper, ribbon, and patterned paper)!

 

The scoring that I did on the background might not show up very well, but I created double "grid" lines around each gold cord strand.  Gold embossing (especially on black) is so dramatic...and perfect for the Asian Flair set (from Verve Stamps)!

For this card, I used my Nestabilities to create this circle card.  I embossed the Psalm 37:4verse (from Verve's new Plain Janes line) using Chocolate Chip craft ink and Clear e.p. onto (BIG shocker here)....vellum!  :-)  The patterned paper, satin ribbon, and c.s. is all from Papertrey's new Dark Chocolate line (mmmmmm, mmmm)!  I added one brown Dew Drop to the bow...and some stitching around the edge of the patterned paper.

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

Recipe (1st card)   Stamps: Asian Flair   Paper: Plum Pudding (Papertrey), Basic Black, Brushed Gold   Ink: Versamark   Other: Gold detail e.p., Scor-Pal, Mega Rectangles Nestabilities, Gold brads, Gold cording, Rhinestones

Recipe (2nd card)   Stamps: Psalm 37:4 (Plain Janes Collection)   Paper: Vellum c.s., Dark Chocolate, Chocolate patterned paper   Ink: Chocolate Chip craft ink   Other: Clear detail e.p., Circle Nestabilities, Dark Chocolate satin ribbon, Dew Drop, Sewing Machine, Rectangle Nestabilities, Paper piercer

White on White Embossed Vellum...

Have you all had a chance to check out today's Dare to Get Dirty Challenges yet?  It was so wonderful checking out everyone's cards so far!  In fact, I was so inspired that I had to go and make another card!  :-) 

This time, I used vellum as the card base...and many of the layers as well!  (I just got my new Linen vellum from Papertrey...and ooooooh, I am in LOVE)!!!  I really wanted my card to be just mainly vellum...but wanted to give it a little accent of color. 

 

The stamps from Inque Boutique's Birdieset were calling my name...and they really wanted to be embossed in white, I just know it!  LOL!  Seriously though, these stamps couldn't be more perfect for pairing up with vellum!  Even though this card looks detailed and time consuming...it was so quick and easy to put together! 

I wanted the sentiment to stand out just a little bit more, so I traced the words (on the back side) with my Pale Yellow Copic marker.  When it came time to add the embellishments, I wanted to keep the clean look of the white on white but still add something that would enhance the elegance of the stamps.  I decided to add a small piece of Lemon Tart satin ribbon (to match the Lemon tart c.s.) and a couple of small pearls.

Well, I'm off to chat some more in the DTGD08Laurie - Got Vellum? thread!!  Hope to see you there!  :-)

Recipe   Stamps:Birdie (Inque Boutique)   Paper:Linen Vellum, Lemon Tart (Papertrey)   Ink: Vellum   Other:White e.p., Nestabilities, Corner rounder punch, Paper piercer, Pale Yellow Copic marker, Lemon Tart satin ribbon, Pearls

Got Vellum?

Happy Monday!  What's so happy about this Monday, you ask?  (Well, just in case you didn't...humor me!  LOL!)  Today is the first day of the week-long "A Day in the Life of a Dirty Girl - Dare to Get Dirty 2008" Challenges!  Everyday there will be challenges hostessed by current/alumni Dirty Girls...and if you're a Fan Club member, you can play along!!  Oh...and I hear there are prizes!!  :-)  You can read more about that HERE. 

I have the honor of hostessing one of today's challenges...and you'll never guess what it has to do with?  LOL!  You KNOW how much I love vellum...and there are so many ways to use it!  If you get a chance, come over to SCS and join in the fun!  :-)  I will be chatting on the DTGD08Laurie Got Vellum? thread!  I can't wait to get to know you all better...and to see your vellum creations!!  :-)

Here's the sample that I made for today's challenge.  I started by stitching some Vellum squares over the top of the My Mind's Eye patterned paper.  I then stamped some swirls (from the Inque Boutique Petals set) over the top of the vellum.  The flower petals (from the same Petals set) are embossed two different times (first time directly onto the patterned paper...the second onto Vellum c..s) using Chocolate Chip ink and Clear detail e.p.  The 'Thank You' sentiment is from Stephanie Barnard's Thank You Mini Set (I embossed it in Chocolate Chip ink and Clear detail e.p. also).  Both of these sets are from The Purple Turtle Stamp Shoppe...they carry all of Inque Boutique's stamps and accessories (including the UBER cool 13 x 13 Stamping Mat)!

I do hope you get a chance to play along!

Have a wonderful day!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Petals, Thank You Mini Set   Paper: Vellum c.s., Shimmery White c.s., Cameo Coral, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, My Mind's Eye patterned paper (Out & About No. 1 Collection)   Ink: Chocolate Chip (Craft and Classic), Close to Cocoa   Other: Clear detail e.p., Rhinestones, Brads, Decorative Brad, Aged Copper hardware, Taffeta ribbon, Leaf ribbon, Sewing Machine, Ticket Corner punch, Swiss Dots embossing Folder, Circle punches

Simple, Yet Chic...

I've been eying the JustRite Monogram Kit for a while...especially after seeing so many wonderful projects others have been doing with it!  Well, I couldn't hold out any longer...I just had to try it out!  So, after sitting down to stamp this evening...and completing a set of six personalized cards in under an hour...well, I am HOOKED!  LOL!

 

I wanted to make a set of note cards for Alison (my twelve year old daughter), so I started by letting her choose the colors and style she wanted.  After looking through all my paper (it took her a little while...heheheee), she chose several patterns from the Basic Grey Sultry Collection.  The patterns are so bold and bright, that I wanted to keep the design/embellishments fairly simple.

I embossed the customized monogram with Chocolate Chip craft ink and Clear detail embossing powder onto Shimmery White c.s.  I then used my circle Nestabilties to cut/emboss both circle layers.  I used some Dew Drops (Hydrangea and Lily Pad) to finish the cards off.

Along with the C-45 Monogram kit, you can also find a lot of the accessories to go with the kit at Stamper's Dream store.  (I just ordered the Damask kit...and I can't wait to create some cards for my mom with it!)

Ali was so pleased with her set...and I was so excited to be able to make such cute note cards so quickly!!  WOOHOO!!!  I definitely know what I'm going to be making our relatives for Christmas!! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Recipe   Stamps: JustRite Monogram Kit   Paper: Chocolate Chip, Shimmery White c.s., Basic Grey Sultry Collection   Ink: Chocolate Chip craft ink   Other: Clear detail e.p., Nestabilities, Dew Drops, Chocolate Twill

OCCC Dry Embossing Challenge...

Happy Saturday!  Today, the challenge over at the OCCC blog is to dry emboss on your card.  Well, I happen to have a ton of Cuttlebug folders that have not seen daylight for a while...so, I was excited to play along!  :-)

I chose this gooooorgeous 29th Street Market (My Mind's Eye) paper as my background...which happens to be a perfect match to the new Stampin' Up! In Color Riding Hood Red!  ;-)  After embossing my heart with Chocolate Chip craft ink and Clear detail e.p. onto Riding Hood Red c.s., I embossed it again onto Chocolate Chip c.s. and cut out just the flowers.  I then adhered them onto the Red embossed heart and then added some Cinnamon Stickles to them (the Chocolate flowers).  I noticed some bluish/greenish accents in the patterned paper, and wanted to bring that out more, so I chose to use a piece of Baja Breeze (another new Stampin' Up! IN Color) c.s. that I ran through my Cuttlebug using the Diamond Rough embossing folder.  I was going to stitch around the edges of the card, but because the challenge was to dry emboss, I decided to use my Scor-Pal and emboss some borders instead.
 

For embellishments, I added some copperish/brown wire, Red satin ribbon, and Aged Copper brads...and of course I sponged all of my layers!  :-)

Make sure to check out the other OCC designer's cards...they are sure to inspire you! 

Have a wonderful day! 

Recipe   Stamps:Friendship (Inkadinkado)   Paper: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, 29th Street Market Self Scroll/Genuine Red (My Mind's Eye)   Ink:  Chocolate Chip craft and Classic ink, Versamark, Close to Cocoa   Other: Clear detail e.p., Cinnamon Stickles, Diamond Rough Cuttlebug embossing folder, Wire, Paper piercer, Scor-Pal, Brads, Red satin ribbon

New Stamps released today!

Today, Our Daily Bread is releasing three new stamp sets - Give Thanks, The Cross of Christ, & The Lord's Prayer!  Today, Our Daily Bread also revealed a new artist - Dina Kowal (DK Designs)!   Not only is she a talented artist (she designed The Cross of Christ set), but she has such a talent for watercoloring! 

When I first received my Cross of Christ set, I just knew that I had to emboss these gorgeous crosses onto vellum with Ivory e.p.!  I adore the soft look of the embossing...and you all know how I feel about vellum...hehehe!  I embossed the medium size cross (from the new Cross of Christ set) twice on the vellum and once onto Shimmery White c.s. (which was then cut out and mounted on ovals that I made with my Nestabilities).  I "highlighted" the middle cross (the one embossed onto Shimmery c.s.) with my Pale Cherry Pink (R11) Copic marker (you can see a close up of this below).

In this picture you can see the light sponging with Sahara Sand ink that I did around the vellum oval...as well as the other layers.

I wanted to add a flower to the cross...but I didn't have any Guava colored flowers that were small enough.  I did have this small flower, but the off-white color just got lost against the cross.  So, I used my Blush (R20) Copic marker and with the Copic Air Gun to dye my flower the perfect shade!  :-)  I found myself in the same dilemma when I went to look for the right colored rhinestones.  Normally the soft pink blend in enough to match..but this time they were too pink for my card.  So...out came my Light Prawn (R22) Copic marker...and I dyed my rhinestones to match as well!  :-) 

Well, I'm off to stamp some more!  (The whole family is in bed...the weather is cool...perfect for spending time in my stamp room!)  :-)

Recipe   Stamps: The Cross of Christ   Paper: Shimmery White c.s.,  Vellum c.s., Groovy Guava, Prism Suede c.s., Graphic 45 patterned paper   Ink: Versamark, Sahara Sand   Other:Ivory e.p., Textile embossing folder, Nestabilities, Kraft taffeta ribbon, Rhinestones, Copic markers, Sewing machine, Flower

Nestabilities Storage...

Happy Sunday!  I normally try not to post pictures of my stamping area...mostly because it is very small and not all that pretty!  LOL!  However, I wanted to share with you  pictures of how I am storing my Nestabilities. 

The other day, while stamping (and talking on the phone...hehehee!), I was wanting to use my Nestabilities.  Up until recently, I have been storing them in Nugget tins and ziploc bags (sooo bad, I know!!), with the intention to put them in CD cases soon.  Since I was doing more talking than stamping (LOL!!), I thought that I could organize them while I finished my conversation.  After I had the CD cases out, I started to think about where I would put them when I was done (my space really is that small...and everything has to have a place).  It was then that I saw the inside of my cabinet (the doors were open still) and the light bulb went on!!  LOL!

 

My cabinets are the "faux" wood kind...so I was not worried about the finish (if I had nice wood cabinets I would probably test the adhesive on a small corner or something).  I just cut strips from a self adhesive magnet roll...added a bit more double stick tape for good measure...and placed them on the inside of my cabinet.  At first, I was just using some magnet rolls that I already had (you know the kind that you can get in any craft store or even at Wal-Mart).  I knew I wasn't going to have enough so I made sure to check for it the next time I went to town.  Can  you believe NO ONE had the magnet rolls anymore??!!  I always see them....I guess that's just Murphey's Law or something like that!  LOL!  So, I ended up ordering THIS from JoAnn's online store.  I have to tell you that it is WAAAAY better than the stuff I was using (the magnet is stronger)...and the rolls are HUGE!  I ordered two of them and only used half of one roll for all four sets of my Nestabilities!!  (I have more left for when I order all those INCREDIBLY gorgeous new sets that Spellbinder's in previewing right now!! LOL!)

It is working out great for me!  My stamp desk is only about a foot away from the cabinet that holds these dies, so they are always within reach!  I know that this is not the solution for everyone...but hopefully this helps someone!  :-)

Have a great day!! 

Thanksgiving Memories...

When my new Our Daily Bread sets arrived, I really did squeal with delight!  Both of the new sets (that will be released on July 15th) are soooo gorgeous!!  Today, I will show you a sneak peek of the Give Thanks set!  :-)

I stamped the cornucopia onto Shimmery White c.s. and colored it in with Copic markers.  After my image was colored I masked it and stamped the En Francais background stamp lightly over it.  I hand cut the wavy corner and popped it up with mounting tape. 

For all those "little" details...I added a piece of wire that I had already strung some small brown beads on, some Ivory taffeta ribbon, a rhinestone, and a metal charm with the word "memories" on it.  Lastly I added just a little bit of shimmery to various parts of the image using a Sakura Stardust pen.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Recipe   Stamps: Give Thanks (Our Daily Bread Designs), En Francais   Paper: Shimmery White c.s., Prism Light & dark Tawny Brown c.s., Patterned paper (K & Co)   Other:Wire, Metal charm, Beads, Ivory taffeta ribbon, Rhinestone, Copic markers, Sakura Stardust pen