Celebrate the Journey

It's all about My Favorite Things today! From the first moment I saw this image 3 years ago, I was enchanted. This is for the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge. I used the set Goin' Places and got to play with my new retro flower die-cut. I love the dimension is adds to the card.

I also am playing the Way to Use It Challenge on SCS. Recycling is the challenge today. I pulled out the stack of chipboard that I save to use for the tab, also a die-cut from My Favorite Things.

Everthing was colored with Copic Markers. I think that is about it today. I am off to meet a new friend for lunch! Have a wonderful day!

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura~

Birthday Monsters

Hi! First, I want to thank you all for your comments the last few days, I really appreciate them:)
This card is for 2 challenges, SCS sketch and the Way to Use It (incorporate stars into the design).

I remembered that this too stinkin' cute set from October Afternoon called Night Light has a little star stamp, ohhh. My nephew's birthday is in a few week's and I thought the monsters would be perfect for him. For the background dp and the monster on the right I used paper we just got in stock from October Afternoon's Daydream collection. To make the cutout circles on the image panels I just used the bigger hole on my Crop-a-Dile and added the teal background paper behind it and then added some inking with Cat's Eye colorbox chalk. The clip is one I pulled out from my stash and the ribbon is from the store. Are you ever in need of the PERFECT word bubble? Check out this set called Comic Bubbles from October Afternoon. I consider this set a sort of staple item.

If you *heart* the monster set like I do, go grab it. There are only 4 left in stock and we are not ordering more, be sure to check out the Night Light Paper pack while you're at it. The Bittersweet line from Basic Grey went fast!!! We do have 4 6x6 pads left in stock. We are going to order more, but if you don't want to wait, snatch up what's left:)

Thanks for stamping by today~

Warm Wishes

Hi! I am sending Warm Wishes to all of you who are getting snow and cold weather:) Aren't these snowmen from My Favorite Things just adorable. They are out of stock right now, but are expected back in shortly.

The paper from the Scenic Route Garland line is available today at PaperAddiction for 10% off. You know you want it:). I stamped the image with Brown Memento ink on watercolor paper and added the brown shading with a brown watercolor pencil and a blender pen. I then did the cracked glass technique. You emboss the entire image 3 times with clear embossing powder and then put it in the freezer for a few minutes and then bend it to crack. So what do you think?

Happy Halloween, thanks for stamping by!

Boo!

Hi! This is for 2 challenges. The first is the My Favorite Sketch Challenge, hosted by Frances (stampowl) this week. The second is the SCS Way To Use It Challenge, to use a silhouette. I don't the latter very often so I pulled out one of my newly released stamps from MFT called Branch Out. I stamped just a partial image and added the ghosts and then colored them lightly with a black watercolor pencil and blender pen. Super simple. I used a stipple brush with black ink to add distressing to the image panel and the sentiment panel.



I mentioned that I was going to be teaching some classes. I did this card (below) on Monday night with a group of very fun stampers and we had a blast. I showed them the watercolor pencil and blender pen technique. I didn't have my camera with me to get a group shot, but I was so impressed with their cards and walked away with some new ideas!
I am packing today for my scrapbooking weekend (I will be making cards, thank you very much:) I don't know if I will get a chance to post any other cards. I had a request for extra card kits from Monday night, so I need to get those put together. Is that something any of you would be interested in? I am selling the kit for $10 and it includes all the cut ingredients and stamped images to make this card and the Happy Haunting card from a few posts back. I can have orders shipped out on Monday and offer a discount on multiple kits. Have a fun and safe weekend!

Thanks for stamping by!
Laura~

Chit Chat

Hello! I am catching up on a couple SCS challenges this week. I chose the sketch and way to use it challenge to use a scoring tool. I don't have score pal (yet) so I used my Fiskars scoring blade to do the trick. It might be hard to see in the picture but I added to lines of scoring around the edge of the top and middle panel. I rubbed a sponge with choc. chip ink over the top to help it stand out. The hedgie and caterpillar were stamped twice on watercolor paper and colored with my fabulous pearlescent watercolors that are available from MFT for the unbelievable price of just $5.95. They give a wonderful shimmer to the image! I added Crystal Effects to the furry part of the hedgie and to the caterpillar and flowers.

On to other news. I may not be back to blog land for about 2 weeks. I am leaving on Saturday to go to Illinois where I will be spending a few days with my wonderful Mother-in-law and then on Wednesday I am heading up to Chicago where I get to attend the CHA Convention. I am so stinkin' excited I can hardly stand it. I am taking a Copic marker class on Thursday with Kim from MFT and Michelle (Flaxychick) ...the thuding sound you hear is the glorious sound of name dropping!!! On Friday SCS is holding a cupcake reception for SCS people in town for the convention, here comes one more name, hosted by Jenn Balcer. Since I am going to be gone for over a week I have to get my house in order. I have a thing about coming back to a clean house. Also, my kids really want attention while they are out of school, you know going to the pool and movies. They are seriously cutting into my stamping time:)

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~

Always on my mind....

Hello! I needed to make a Mother's Day card...I have had 3 commissioned and I also need some for imakeartcards.com. I have so much more fun designing them when it is for a challenge and since I haven't got to play since Monday, you know I HAD to combine them. One of the reasons, in case you are wondering is that I got a new printer yesterday and between buying it and setting it up I didn't get any stamping time in. I got an HP 3 in 1 and am looking forward to better printing! I got an order for about 300 cards for the elementary school my daughter goes to. The Principal wants personalized cards to send out, but when I told him how much stamped cards would be, we settled on a regular print job. I used the school logo and added his name for a personal touch. I used my PrintShop program. If you want to see them, I will make a separate post. I am just happy my new printer will be mostly paid for, kwim?

Oh yes, the card. I combined the color, sketch and the way to use it, to use scissors in a fun way. That is sort of a stretch for what I did here, because it really isn't special, I just cut the heart out 2 times, but I did use my them so I am going to post it in that gallery, let those gallery police come get me:) I colored the heart image with my SU! markers and cut out along the main heart. I then used a chocolate chip ink pad to ink the entire image and then cut that out. The first heart was then layered on top of that. I stamped 2 of the other images from Always on the background panel and then added dots with the tip of the chocolate chip SU! marker to mimic the dots around the heart. I did a little sewing on the celery panel and added a ribbon and a flower and there you go, all done!

Thanks so much for stamping by!

Laura~

p.s. I haven't forgotten about the watercoloring tutorial, give me a few more days...mmm weeks, I will show you I promise:)

Hello Kitty!

Sorry, I couldn't resist that title! This is for the MFT Sketch Challenge and this week's Way to Use It Challenge, to use some kind of acrylic in your creation. The decorative paper (Die Cuts With a View) has got a really fun coating on some of the elements on the paper and if that's not enough for you I added Crystal Effects to the fishes and the cat's eyes. The cat and the background were colored with watercolor pencils and a blender pen, my favorite way to color right now. The cat was stamped an extra time so I could cut it out and pop it up on dimensionals. I wanted the detail at the bottom to resemble a collar. What do you think?

A few more bits of business...several people asked what I submit to magazines with the picture. Here is a brief example of what I send (Please remember, I am just sharing how I go about this)

Stamps: MFT Boho Blossoms, $1 Mike's
Paper: K&Co, Wild Saffron, Not Quite Navy, vanilla, Blue Bayou
Ink: Choc chip, Ruby Red, Baroque Burgandy
Accessories: brads, ribbon, twine, crop-a-dile, paper piercer
Techniques: faux stiching

If the card gets accepted, I give a detailed list of manufacturers and make sure I didn't leave anything out the first time around.

I was also asked if payment is involved. Yes! Either a check or product and then a copy of the issue. I actually haven't received an actual check yet so I can't tell you how much exactly (it should be $30+).

Also, I followed a link to Carrie who has been leaving some very sweet comments and it turns out she has her very own online stamp store called My Little Stamp Shack and offers a 40% off coupon (LOVE THAT!) and free shipping on orders over $40 (total after coupon has been used). I ordered 4 stamps sets and can't wait to get them and ink them up!

Okay, I think that covers everything...I need to eat!

Thanks for stamping by!

Laura

Wishing you sunny days!

Hi! I finally got a chance to play the sketch challenge this week and add the way to use it challenge just 'cause I felt like it:) I got this Penguin Chick (from Imaginisce) at my LSS. Isn't she adorable? I stamped her 3 times. Once in with Chocolate Chip classic ink, once in Old Olive, and once in Chocolate Chip on cameo paper (for the flower). The palm tree is from Paper Salon (Summer Fun). the palm tree was also cut out after I stamped it onto white cs. I used my nesties for the oval. The DP is from Imaginisce. I used the paperpiercer template to mark where to make the holes for the eyelets. The lacing of the twine reminds me of the lacing you sometimes see on swim trunks, what do you think?

Thanks so much for stamping by!

Laura~

Gift Bags

These bags are for the girls in our office. I also get to post them for the Way to Use it Challenge. I got the bags at Target on clearance, woohoo! I kept them fairly simple and could easily do quite a few if necessary. I colored the snowmen with a blender pen and ink spots. Easy peasy!

Recipe~ Stamps: Festive Favorite, Circle of Frienship. Paper: Figgy Pudding from Basic Grey, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue. Ink: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa. Other: Snowflake rhinestone (Michael's), Cirlcle punches. ribbon

Tea Bag Holder

Hi! This is for try a new technique Monday at SCS. I used the tag punch from Festive Favorites. Pretty straight forward today. Hope you are having a nice one!

Laura~

Polka Dot Birthday

For this Way to Use It Challenge we are supposed to use the fabulous brads that we hoard. Gasp! Well you only get one out of me today! I stamped the presents from MFT in black craft and embossed with clear ep. I colored it in with a blender pen and ink pads. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Recipe ~ Stamps: My Favorite Things. Paper: Wild Asparagu DP, CTMH DP, Pomegranate, River Rock. Ink: Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa. Other: Brad from MM, small brads, paper piercer, frame punch, ribbon.