Hawaiin Postcards

*edit* I entered this card in a contest. I will post the pic when I hear!

Hello! A wonderful friend asked me to make a card for her daughter who is getting married this weekend. This is a second wedding and she wanted a card that would reflect the couples easy going style. She mentioned a sort of Jimmy Buffet/island feel. This is what I came up with.

The palm tree and exotic flower is from Paper Salon, a set called Summer Fun. The postcard stamps are from Close to my Heart, Vintage Postcard. For the ocean scene I used sponge daubers to add the first layer of color and then went back to add detail with watercolor pencils and a blender pen. This card is pretty heavily sponged with Distress Ink. The leaf background stamps are also from Close to My Heart, Nature Walk. I added stickles to the waters edge for a little shimmer.




While I had this palm tree out and a million sheets of different tropical paper, I made another card with the same layout, but different colors and the hula chick and lots of sparkle. It's fun to see how the same stamp (palm tree) can take on such a different look. The sand on both cards is real and added with liquid glue.

Both cards are 5 1/4 x 5 1/4.

Thanks so much for stamping by!

Laura~

Sweet Baby

Happy Memorial Day! This is for the MFT Sketch Challenge this week. I got to use another new set that hasn't seen ink yet called She's Having a Baby. I know I went with pink and brown again, but these are probably the colors I would choose if I only got to take 2 colors on a deserted island, lol! I paper pieced the dress and added crystal effects to the baby toys. I also gave a go at decorating the inside of the card. I stamped the flowers in the corners and then hand drew lines between the flowers and then colored it all in. I really like how that came out, what do you think?

I am grilling steak tonight, but other than that I plan on getting in some prime stamping time. What are your plans?

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

Hello

Hi there! This is for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. I used one of the stamp sets I got from My Little Stamp Shack. It's form Hero Arts. I stamped the branch and the bird on to cream colored cardstock with Brown Staz-on and colored it with a blender pen and ink pads. The dp is from my LSS and of course I cut off and glued the edge that tells me what company:( It comes with the flowers cut out in spots. I did a little stitching, a little paper piercing, added Star Dust Stickles to the flowers and the little bird's wing and that's it!

I am going to try to stamp a little tomorrow, but if I don't post again before Monday, I hope you have a relaxing Memorial Day weekend with the people you want to spend time with. I don't have any plans other than that.

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

More Father's Day

Hi! The challenge for today was to create a masculine card. I still had one fella that I received as a RAK from Sara (depeira) a little while ago. I also had some grilling paper I picked up at my LSS a couple of weeks ago. I colored the image with my watercolor pencils because the image was stamped on regular cardstock I didn't have any room for error. I had the image all colored in and looking fabulous on the paper that is came on and then got a smudge on it, arrrggghhhh. So I had to cut the fella and his grill out. I do like the dimension that it gave it, but still. The sentiment is from the MFT set Let's Hear it for the Boy and the cool corner detail is also from a MFT set called setting the stage which is on sale this month at MFT, go check it out. I doodle around the sentiments to mimic the stamp doodle. I think it gives a cool look.

I am waiting for the carpet guys to come fix my carpet where my dog made a hole, eccchhh! So maybe I will get another card done while I wait, that's a good thing:)

Thanks so much for stamping by!

Laura~

explore

Hi! This is for today's sketch challenge. I used the new set from My Favorite Things called Goin' Places. I seriously love this set. I paired it with paper and chipboard from a line from Deja Views called Global Views which I got on clearance at Michael's...oh yes I did! I stamped the base of the card corner with the En Francais background stamp. I colored the image with markers and a blender pen, like I showed in the previous post. I sponged all the elements one the card with Range Distress Ink.

I think this card could be appropriate for a graduation, what do you think?

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

Gettin' Busy with Father's Day!

On the 20th of each month My Favorite Things has a special day called of all things MFT Day. It is a chance to showcase the stamps from the last release of whatever you feel like. Well, I got a few stamp sets when I got the Design Team spot that haven't seen ink yet. This set called Let's Hear it for the Boy was screaming for some ink and love.

Several weeks ago I ask if you would like to see a coloring tutorial, you said yes, so here you are...

I stamped the image onto watercolor paper with Brown Staz-on ink and selected the ink spots I wanted to use. I used the decorative paper to help with color selection.

With a blender pen touched to the ink pad, I start by coloring the edges of each element and moving the color inward. This adds depth and interest. As you can see, I use the edge around my image as a palette of sorts; checking and blending color as needed.
Once all the color has been added, I go back with Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip to add distressing and shading. I just love the aged look this gives to images.
So tell me what you think. I don't know if that was detailed enough. If it wasn't I will try again.

Thanks so much for stamping by!

Laura~

Aloha!

This is for the TLC challenge to make a double pocket purse. How stinkin' cute is this. I really wanted to keep the focus on the bag, so I kept the stamping and layering pretty simple. I believe I got this paper from JoAnne's. I did layer the ribbons, 'cause I felt like it, and thought it would add a nice touch. The penguin was stamped 2 times, once with brown Staz-on and then with Only Orange. I cut the skirt out and layered in on the base. The flower at the top of the bag is made with a felt flower that I got as a RAK and a cuttlebug flower die layered on top of it. The directions for the bag are very easy to follow. I would recommend trying it if you like this!

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

MFT Birthday Sketch

Hi again! Well I could lay around just so much today and wanted to get this week's MFT Sketch Challenge done early this week. I desperately need to replenish my birthday card stash. I don't have any. This is truly one of my favorite MFT images. I just love how you can color it to match anything. I stamped the image on watercolor paper and colored it with a blender pen and ink pads. The DP is from Scribble Scrabble. I don't have own liquid pearls so I used iridescent white mist Scribble (3 dimensional fabric paint) I used an old Creative Memories cutting system to cut the wave on the left trim paper which was stamped with turquoise with my Canvas BG stamp. I used the smallest oval Nestability to cut out the details for the rhinestone brads.

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

Sweet Treats

Hi there! My sweet blogging friend Sandy (The Cozy Chair) sent me this fabulous box to congratulate me on getting a designer spot on the MFT team. This was such a treat this weekend in my mailbox! I also got several copies of the new Paper Crafts Magazine which has my very first published card. You can see it on page 21 with the heading Friendship Gift Bag. What a fun weekend this has been.

I don't have any cards to post today. It is just over one hundred degrees here and I am feeling a little sluggish, kwim? I am planning on lots of stamping this week though, hope you are doing well!

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

Summer Gift Basket

Hi! I have been a busy girl the past few days. I got a little stamping time in, but I also did a little volunteer work at my daughter's school yesterday and I have been doing a little window shopping with my mother-in-law who's in town until Friday. The weather is getting warm here, but it is also very windy. This project is for a fun gift exchange that is going on at SCS with some of the challenge stalker girls. The theme for this month was picnic and had to include a card, a project with the color red (like a checkered tablecloth) a food treat and had to be less than $15.00.

For the card, I used a RAK bella image and DP from Close to My Heart. For the project I CASE'd an idea from Christina who did an adorable spring tic tac toe board for the last MFT Designer Challenge. The gift also includes a Potluck recipe book that I added a band in coordinating paper to, a Grill It apron (picked up at Ross) and a box of dark chocolate peppermint patties, yum!

I am going out of town this weekend, so unless I get something done a little later today (not likely) I won't be back to blogging until Sunday. Have a terrific week!

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

Have a Wonderful Mother's Day!

Hello! I am going to keep this post short today. I want to wish you a fabulous Mother's Day! This card is for my mother-in-law who is visiting this week. She is a gardener, so I think she will like this. The gardener is from My Favorite Things Can Ya Dig It? set is paperpieced and I used lots of distressing to give the card a vintage feel. The paper is from DCWV Nana's Nursery.

We are going out for brunch and just taking it easy today. I hope your day is exactly how you would like it to be.

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

Goin' Places

As promised here is a peek at my favorite set from the new release at My Favorite Things going on tonight. Here are the deets...

My Favorite Things (http://www.mftstamps.com/) is having a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday, May 7 from 9-11 p.m. Eastern time. Lots of fun is planned including finding out how YOU can be the next MFT Guest Designer. Head over to the MFT forum on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ to find out all the details and we hope to see you there on Wednesday night.

The image is from Goin' Places. This set is so stinkin' cute, I can't stand it. It has a cityscape, luggage and a banner that can be added behind the little prop plane. The card is standard size 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 . That super cute houndstooth paper is from a MFT digital paper pack. You choose the paper you like place your order and you get a file ready for immediate printing on your computer. I was a little hesitant to use this product, to be honest with you. Was it going to be the quality that I like, would the printing look good? Can I tell you now that I am completely hooked, I mean getting to print the paper you want at anytime. How can you beat that. I printed the pattern on white cardstock. But I was thinking later it would have been wonderful on cream stock too! For the girl I stamped the image 2 times on watercolor paper and once on decorative paper for her dress. The map was colored with ink pads and a blender pen and my one of my 5 Copic markers for the flesh color. My friend Carrie asked from the last post which color, it is YR000 Silk Sketch marker. The buckles were done with 3/8" brown grograin ribbon and eyelets set with a crop a dile. I then added some stiching to give it a little more texture. Well I think that's it. I am a little excited about the release tonight, so if I missed anything, let me know.

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

Best Friend

Hi there! Here is another sneak peak at one of the new My Favorite Things sets being released tomorrow night. It's called Gone to the Dogs. I used the sketch that Cindy, from MFT, posts every week. Anyone can play along you don't even need to use MFT stamps. I paper pieced the girl with some dp from DCWV, it's from a stack that had a cat and dog theme. I used a copic marker for her skin (I own just 5 Copic markers) and colored the doggy with ink pads and a blender pen. I used Platinum Stickles for the leash and collar and then sponged the edges of all the paper with Ranger Distress Ink. This set is just adorable, but I absolutely cannot wait to show you what I did with my personal favorite set from this release. It's called Going Places and you will see it tomorrow if you stop by.

Here's the details about the release party! My Favorite Things (http://www.mftstamps.com/) is having a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday, May 7 from 9-11 p.m. Eastern time. Lots of fun is planned including finding out how YOU can be the next MFT Guest Designer. Head over to the MFT forum on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ to find out all the details and we hope to see you there on Wednesday night.

Thanks so much for stamping by!

Laura~

Arlington Swap

Hi! I had the chance to go to Arlington, Texas this weekend to hang out during a shoebox swap that was organized by some girls from SCS. What a blast! I had a chance to meet some of the stampers whose blogs I visit. I wish now that I could meet every one of you, because without exception I found these stampers to be gracious, warm and totally fun to hang out with! I had such a great time I am considering hosting a swap in Las Vegas, what do you think?
Well here are few of the stampers I got to spend some time with on Friday and Saturday...


This is the adorable friend of Carole, her name is Kristie. (I can't remember her screen name:( She is the kind of beautiful person you want to hate cause she is seemingly perfect, but find that you just can't, 'cause they are truly wonderful, kwim?)

This is Susie, Susiestampsalot (had a blast sitting across from her at dinner on Friday, a fun and competely wonderful girl)

This is Deborah, Bead&Stampin...(so completely sweet to me)

This is Jessie, Knightrone...(had to drive through tornadoes to get to the swap, every bit as wonderful as I thought she would be) Carole, TruCarMa, (a super intelligent and totally cool girl, who owes me a drink, which rest assured I will collect some day) and Jen Balcer (General Manager Extrodinaire of SCS)

This is Carolyn's foot, Cammie, she took this pic of it when I gave her my camera, lol...pretty toes, Cammie!

Kim from My Favorite Things (an absolutely fabulous girl, I mean come on she owns my favorite stamp company) on the left and Jen Del Muro (has the sweetest little girl named Ellie, who I had the privilege to spend a few hours with on Friday and dinner on Saturday )to my right

I have a few more pics, but I didn't want to overwhelm you guys, plus I thought it might be like when someone tries to show you pictures of their vacation, your glad they had a nice time, but you don't necessarily want know all the details. If you want to see a few more, let me know.




Thanks for stamping by!


Laura~

BIG News!!!

I am so thrilled to finally be able to share this....I am the newest member of the My Favorite Things Design Team! WOOHOO! I am pretty sure you are all aware of my love of My Favorite Things Stamps and this is absolutely a dream come true. Kim, the owner, called me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I would join. I didn't even ask what was involved before I practically shouted 'YES' to her on the phone. I just adore her images and am honored to be a part of such an uber talented design team. So here is my first official sneak peak of a set that will be released on Wednesday during the cocktail party at SCS.

I did this for the Technique Lover's Challenge, a diorama card. I used new set Friends Furever and a previously released set on special this month called Setting the Stage for the doodled corners. The decorative paper in the center section is from DCWV. I used choc chip for the back panel and kraft for the front. Really simple card that looks so very cool because of the layers.

Thanks so much for stamping by!

Laura~