Smile

This is for the Ways to Use It challenge at SCS, use staples in the project. This is more of the Wild Saffron paper from K&Co. The notebook paper is the reverse of the flower print. How cute is that? I let the paper do all the work for me here. I used Ranger Distress Ink (brushed corduroy, weathered wood) for the flower and for the distressing of the paper.

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

Hello Sketch

Well, hello! This is for the weekly SCS sketch. I pulled out my favorite My Favorite Things Boho Blossoms Flower again. I just love this flower and how versatile it is. The DP is from K&Co. Wild Saffron pack, super fun! I stamp the flower on glossy card stock, trimmed and distressed it with bravo burgandy. The sentiment is a $1 stamp from Mike's.

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura

Distressed Dahlia

OMGosh, I just loved learning how to do these paper flowers. They add so much dimension to a card and with just a little extra time. I also love that you can take full advantage of the wonderful double sided paper we all have! I combined the technique challenge with the My Favorite Things sketch challenge. The dp that I used today is from a small pack of Marcella by K paper that I picked up at Target on clearance as are the extra flowers. I popped the rhinestones off the center, distressed them with ink and added back brads. The presents are from My Favorite Things, of course!

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

Moments...ironing

So, I was doing a little blog hopping and stopped by The Cozy Chair where Sandy said she had been tagged to share what was going on in her life at the moment. She took a picture of the snow shoveling that was going on in her neck of the woods and a pic of her desk. I just love getting a little peek at what my stamping friends are doing around the country and the world for that matter. I was just getting ready for some Friday night ironing. You see, I don't do the the laundry for the week until the ironing from the previous week has been done. That way I don't get overwhelmed with ironing or laundry and everything in my closet is clean, ironed and ready to go. This system has worked so well for me over the last several years that I almost don't mind. Now, keep in mind that I pretty much make an event out of ironing anyway. I have the world's largest TV (not really, but pretty great) in my sanctuary of a bedroom. I put on a favorite show or a movie I have been wanting to watch and get busy. Anyway, you can see part of my very serene bedroom which the ironing board lives in for about 1 hour every week.

I need your help. While blog hopping one day, I found someone who made purses out of old jeans....I cannot remember who's blog it is. Have you been there, can you tell me where to find her? Thanks

Aren't you glad I shared? Show and tell about your moment and leave a post here so I can come take a peek.

Laura~

Chic Hello

This is for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. This is such a great versatile sketch. I did angle the image to add a little interest and show off the felt flower behind the image. This is also for the limited supply challenge to use scraps. I did stamp the image for this, but the paper is leftover from a card I did earlier in the week. I am really trying to focus on that this year. I am getting overwhelmed by my scrap pile...I hate to throw even the smallest scrap of paper away. I have organized my scraps by color and am getting better about reaching for those before a fresh sheet of paper. Do you have any wonderful ideas for scraps? I would love to hear how you deal with scraps and supplies that you tend not to reach for.

The image is from Close to my heart and the sentiment is from the $1 bin at Mike's.

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

Loads of love

Hi there, this is for this weeks color and sketch challenge. I just borrowed this stamp set from my mom who stamps too. I am going to send this to our family friend who just found out he has cancer...he is seeking treatment options, but the cancer has spread. He is just 30 years old and has a 3 year old daughter and a baby due in the summer. He needs all the encouragement he can get....I am making it my mission to send a card every week or so.

To color the truck, I used my blender pen and ink pads. Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

Friends & Coffee

This is for the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge. I just love this DP from Sandylion. I used the single flower punch from SU and stamped over it with ruby red with the texture stamp from Oh, so lovely and then doodled arount the petals with my black marker. The swirl under the imgae is from a $1 stamp from Mike's. I also used a couple of eyelets in the right corner, but I don't think you can see those.

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

Oh my, how pink.

Ok, so can I just say that this isn't my favorite card....it is for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge, love the sketch, but just wasn't feeling the mojo today. I kept thinking I could push past it but I don't think I did. I got the new paper from Basic Grey called Two Scoops and it had that cupid paper in it. I keep seeing all kinds of pink Valentine's cards in the gallery and think they are adorable. Anyway, I thought I would share because I was wondering if this happens you.

OK, on to the details....The heart is from My Favorite Things stamped with a glue pad onto vellum card stock then sprinkled with pink glitter. I also embossed a strip of vellem with a textile folder with my CB. I have had those rhinestones forever, so I am glad to have found a home for them. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

Carte Postale

So today's inspriration was the seed bag. I included it today because I really wanted to capture the clean lines of the seed bag. I did cut out a few of the flowers and pop them up on dimensionals. So that's it, it really doesn't get any simpler than this. I used the scoring tool on my Fiskars cutter to make the embossed lines around the main image and on the card base.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful weekend!
Laura~

Eskimo Wishes

Hello! For the challenge today we were supposed to use embossing powder. I colored the eskimo girl from Polar Pals with white craft ink and black and stamped her on white cs and then embossed her with clear ep twice. I also embossed the fish, the sentiment and the snowflakes. The background paper is from Basic Grey Figgy Pudding.

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

Asian Blossoms

Hello! This is for the current sketch challenge at SCS. The blossom stamp is from Rubber Stampede. The accent is from Art of the Orient from SU! I stamped the image on white paper and added color with a blender pen and ink pads. I used Ranger Distress Ink for the distressing around the edges. The dp is from DCWV Old World Stack.

I need to send a card to an extended family member who just found out he has throat cancer, I don't know him well and am trying to decide if this card is appropriate for him.

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

1st Birthday

This is for the color challenge at SCS (rose red, sage shadow, apricot appeal) As it so happens I needed a birthday card for my niece and I just got the new paper from DCWV called Nana's Nursery. The stamp is from Close to My Heart. My mom sells their stamps so I have few of them and I just love this giraffe! The sentiment is from Studio G (the $1 stamps at Micheals)

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

xoxox

This is for 2 challenges; technique lover's challenge (use a pocket heart on a card) and My Favorite Things sketch challenge. The DP is some that I have had for an embarrassing amount of time. I stamped En Francias onto vanilla cs and embossed with clear ep and then distressed with baroque burgandy. I stamped the heart from MFT Boho Blossoms onto vanilla cs with baroque burgandy and cut it out.

This card is for my wonderful husband. Our 15th wedding anniversary is Wednesday! Wow, it seems like it can't be that many years....

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

I have a winner!

I had 4 entries for my first blog challenge, alter an altoid tin. Can I tell you I will probably have to have a random drawing next time because this is so stinkin' hard trying to pick a winner. I am going to case all 4 tins because they are all so adorable!

The winner for this round is Sandy Smart! Take a look at her totally creative new mom survival kit! She has been working on items for the new mom of twins all week!

I am working on the next challenge so stay tuned!

Laura~

Weekend Sketch Challenge

This is for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. The dp is Pheobe from BasicGrey and pretty much inspired the design. I stamped the flower and the butterfly on glossy cardstock and used SU markers and a blender pen to achieve the shading. I added quite a bit of doodling to this card. If you haven't tried it, don't be afraid...I think it lends such a personal touch to cards!

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

MFT Guest Designer Challenge

*edit* You will see this card in the July 2008 issue of Cards. Woohoo!!!!

This is for the My Favorite Things Guest Designer challenge. We had to make something that wasn't a square or a rectangle. This is what I came up with. I cut the card base into an octagon and then did the same with the 3 other layers of cardstock and dp just slightly smaller each time. I stamp the boho blossom flower onto glossy white cs with cameo coral. I then just cut out a few of the paisleys from the dp and used them as leaves. Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

Best Birthday

This is for My Favorite Things sketch challenge. They are having a release party on Wednesday, and I cannot wait! I just got that chipboard letter from Marcella by K at Target on clearance the other day along with a stack of coordinating paper (like I needed it, but you understand). I used my Cuttlebug to cut out the flower and doodled a around the edge of the main image and the sentiment.

I am so excited to see what you are working on for the Altoid Tin challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

Laura's Blog Challenge

Good morning! The thing that I most love about SCS is the challenges. I played my first challenge (use up some scrap paper) the day after I first found Splitcoast. If you look around over at SCS, you can find many challenges to play in everyday, but there isn't any time limit and you don't get a chance to win a prize! I really do have fun giving away fun things. So here we go, the first challenge I am going to issue is to alter an Altoid Tin. Sales of gift cards hit an all time high this holiday season! An altered tin is a really fun way to give a gift card! I used a tin that had chocolate truffles in it (of course I ate those). The paper was cut to size and corner rounded. The ribbon was attached with red double sided tape.

The deadline for leaving a post here with a link to your blog or to your SCS gallery is Sunday, January 13. This will not be a random drawing (at least this week). I will choose the winner based on creativity and design! I do welcome feedback about what you like (especially if you are not going to enter a tin) Please use key word LC1 when uploading to SCS. The winner will receive the goodies shown in the photo! Good luck and have fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

Boho Thank You

This is for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. I am so happy she is doing them again! The background paper is Cosmo Cricket and totally inspired this whole card. I think True Friend is perfect with this paper. I colored the stamp with my SU markers and then stamped onto vanilla card stock. I did a lot of distressing with sponge daubers and ink pads.

Recipe~ Stamps: True Friend. Paper: Cosmos Cricket (Gretel collection), Really Rust, Choc Chip, Sage Shadow, Bazzil caramel. Ink: Choc chip, Creamy Caramel, Sage Shadow, Ruby Red, Baroque Burgandy, Close to Cocoa.

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

Oh, one more thing...please be sure to stop by tomorrow, I am going to start my own weekly challenge with a giveaway. Hint, it won't be a sketch challenge, think outside the box!

Pottery Barn Inspired

Last night I was looking through my new Pottery Barn Catalogue and ripped out a few pages. My husband asked what I was doing and I said getting inspiration. Well, I got on SCS to discover that the inspiration challenge for today was from the very same catalogue. I had to play! I stamped the image on watercolor paper and colored it with ink pads and a blender pen. I stamped a few extra flower to cut out.

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

And the winner is...

Giovana posted this comment to win my giveaway!


Hi, I don't have a blog but I would like to participate,I am a SATM with a wonderful 3 y.o girl that keeps me busy almost all day, but also we share the passion: CRAFTS, so we usually have a lot of fun together.I love to check blogs everyday and everyday I find new ones and great ones like yours!!!!Thanks for the chance to win yummy blog candy.
Happy New Year
Giovana S.


I have so much fun giving stuff away, I am going to make this at least a monthly event! Do you have any ideas for a fun way to give stuff away, rather than just leave a post? Let me know on this post and I will get a few things together for the next time!~

Laura~

More Love

EDIT~ Well I am extremely thrilled that I had to remove this because it will be in an upcoming issue of Paper Crafts Magazine...this is the second card of mine that was picked up woohoo! I can re-post the picture a couple of weeks before the issue comes out!

I see a theme devoloping here! This is for the limited supply challenge, no white or vanilla paper. This card was very easy to do...just a little embossing and cutting, done! I stamped the heart from My Favorite Things Boho Blossoms on basic grey paper and then embosses with silver ep. The second layer of paper is metallic silver. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Someone pointed out to me that Vegas (Veges) was spelled wrong in my profile, thanks for pointing that out...it was right under my picture and I never caught it. I guess we get used to what's right in front of our face, right or wrong:) I guess that will be my little lesson for today!

Laura~

Be sure to check a few posts back for the blog bling I am giving away!

love you

I have got some excellent stamping time in the last few days!! This is for a sketch challenge that the challenge chasers run. The flower is from My Favorite Things. This really has to be one of my very favorite stamps. I think the flower looks so pretty cut out and it is easy to cut out btw.

I feel lame asking this, but can anyone tell me how to keep my blog bling giveaway at the top of the page?

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

Sketch Challenge #1

So a stamper named Nancy, nabush, over at SCS asked the question is there a sketch challenge challenge? So she started a thread and the challenge was issued. She has already done over 30. Here is my submission for #1. I really want to do them all, we'll see how that goes. Let me know if you decide to play along too! Sketches are my personal favorite and hopefully they will give me inspiration on days that I need it.

My friend Sandy asked how did I come up with putting the coffee ring stain on the previous post, well I am just a genius....not! I totally stole the idea from somewhere on SCS. LOL.

Have a wonderful day! Don't forget to leave a post to win some blog bling.

Laura~

enough caffeine

This is for sketch challenge 157. I found the sentiment at JoAnn's and thought is was super cute. The image is the other new one that I got from My Favorite Things. I really love her wonderfully unique stamps! I paper pieced the dress and yes that is a stain from my morning cup of coffee:)

I am so thrilled that I have few people playing for the blog bling that I am giving away. You will notice that your chances of winning are really great!

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura~

I've been tagged and I am giving away a little love!

Diane from Diane's Designs tagged me to list 7 little known things about myself. Thanks Diane, I think it's great to learn a little something new about my fellow bloggers! Well, I played this about a month or so ago and I really need to expand my little circle of blogging friends. As Diane said, one of the benefits of playing this is that we might discover some blogs we haven't been to before. Well, I know that a least a couple of dozen people stop by here everyday and I would love to get a chance to plug your blog. So consider yourself tagged and leave a message on this post and I will link to your blog and give it a little review! I really want to get to know some of you so I will also be including a little random giveaway for those that post a link to their blog. If you don't have a blog, just leave a little love note:) I will have the drawing on Friday, January 4.

1. In my previous life, before SAHM, I was a cake decorator. My mom and I had a shop together for about 10 years!

2. I married a boy from high school, but only after running into him in college.

3. I have a degree in marketing.

4. In November, I was featured in a local magazine highlighting some of the volunteer work I do.

5. I am the PTA President at my DD's elementary school.

6. This is way more difficult than I thought it would be:)

7. I have a little chocolate, coffee, and wine almost everyday!

Happy New Year!

Laura~

I will be ubdating this part of the post as people share their blogs with us!

Sandy Smart, who I has been so incredibly supportive of me and my blog since I started, has a wonderful blog called The Cozy Chair. Please stop by and say hello to her. If you are into selling your stuff, Sandy and some great ideas for projects that sell!

Mudmaven, Chris, has a brand new blog and I am sure would love a little encouragement in her endeavor!

Allison, Stampin' When I Can, has a blog that is dedicated to all things going on in the blogging world of stamping. It is so cool that she gets all this information together in one place. I don't know how she keeps track of it all, but I am really grateful for her doing it!

Annelies, invited us to stop by her blog even though it is in Dutch. I think we all know all we need is a picture when we are admiring another artist's work.

Jannette, also has a brand new blog, this one in Spanish. How fun is it that this art form crosses many borders!

Rosella, Corner of Enchantment, has some unique projects posted on her blog.

Peggy, PR Designs, has been showing of some of her projects for the last month including a gingerbread house and a new coat of paint for her bedroom.

JoAnna, Crafty Kid, has got her own giveaway going on, and can I tell you I am going to do all I can to win hers. She gives you extra chances to win for doing different things. Really fun projects there as well!

Ashley, Stampin' Out Stress, has a brand new blog and said she wouldn't mind if we stopped by!

Chillin'

I got some new MFT stamps yesterday! This is for the color challenge; Real Red, Certainly Celery and Taken with Teal! The color challenges are typically the least fun for me. If I am not crazy about the colors, it is hard to get excited. I wasn't crazy about adding teal to this mix, but I kept it somewhat low key and am pretty happy with how this turned out.

Happy New Year!

Laura~