Big Hug....

I love that sentiment from the Perfect Words Hostess set--Big Hug.  This is another set I'm really going to miss!! It has some wonderful sentiments in it. 

For today's card, I used Cherry Cobbler and the Summer Smooches designer paper.  The flower is from the Mixed Bunch set.  I stamped it on vellum cardstock with VersaMark and embossed it with white embossing powder.  Punched it and one from Daffodil Delight using the Blossom punch and layered them.  I added a yellow button as the center.  

The ribbon is some of the Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon.  For some reason, I love this card.  It's pretty simple but just thrills me!  Some cards are like that.  I guess it's the rich colors on it.

Glad you stopped in today!! Smiles, Laura

Circle Flower.....

Today I am sharing another color challenge sample with you.  Here are the pictures we had to inspire us for this week's challenge:

For my card, I again used the Summer Smooches designer paper.  There are so many pretty designs and colors in this series.  You will be able to order it on June 1 when the new Stampin' Up! catalog goes live. I've found several series of designer paper in the new catalog that I cannot wait to buy and play with.

OH, the card.....Well, I used Poppy Parade for this card, but the designer paper goes with Riding Hood Red.  Anyway, I added 3 layers of designer paper to the front of it.  

Since the print in the designer paper has these little ROUND flowers, I decided to make a round flower for my card.  And the circle sort of reflects the cherries in the inspiration photo.  

Here is a close-up of my flower....

I used the largest petal on the Blossoms Petal Builder punch to make the flower pot.  I just cut off the wavy part of the petal.  I thought the "rhinestone" jewel in the canter made it pop.

The sentiment, Have a Wonderful Week, is from the Sweetly Said stamp set that is, alas, retiring on May 31.  I have loved that set!!

Here are three samples I received from other girls participating in the challenge:

Jeanne Nielsen

 Priscilla Grunes

 Rose Kerry

Aren't they all delightful!!! I love these challenges!!

Have a great day and visit me often!!

Smiles, Laura

Another great layout!

Today I'm showing you another fun layout, made in two different colors/designer papers.  These are the same papers I used in yesterday's samples.  For this first one, the card is Island Indigo layered with Daffodil Delight and Summer Smooches designer paper.  The butterflies are cut using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.  

I used the large oval and the scalloped oval punches for the sentiment.  Again, the sentiment is from the Petite Pairs stamp set.

Here is the same card made from Crumb Cake and Perfect Plum card stock, using more of the designer paper Judy brought to play with.

This is another design that I could make over and over in many different colors and for many different occasions.  

Come back to see me again soon!!

Smiles, Laura

Stenciling on cards....

I wanted to share a card with you today, since I probably bored you with the Gabby entry.  Thanks for humoring me about her!!  This card is made of Sahara Sand cardstock.   I layered it with some designer paper that is not SU, but that I like.  I had this plastic stencil I bought recently and decided I'd put it on white cardstock and sponge some color on it.  I added the new Summer Starfruit and Gumball Green.  I used my sponge daubers to put colors in random places, mixing the two.    

When I got that finished, I decided to stamp the sentiment in the middle of the circle that the stencil left.  I used the Petite Pairs stamp set for this one.  I used the Blossom punch for the flower and added a center from a now retired punch.

I like coloring through stencils like this.  I wish SU had some stencils!!

Thanks for visiting today!!  See you again here soon!!  Smiles, Laura

Happy Birthday, Gabby....

A couple of you have sent me private emails asking about Gabby, since I haven't mentioned her recently.  She's alive and well and just turned 4 years old this week.  She was WIRED all day, like she KNEW it was her birthday.  I gave her several treats, but she kept wanting more, like she was hungry.  I finally told my husband I thought Gabby was begging for birthday cake, even though she never gets cake.  Or perhaps, she wanted a new toy as a birthday gift.  Ya think?  It's like she has a human brain sometimes.  I decided she didn't need more toys right now, but you know, she plays with her two newest ones (Easter gifts) so perhaps she would not settle down because she wanted a new toy.  I guess I'm off to Pet Smart to buy a gift for her!!

Thanks to you all for asking about her!!  She's one of the joys of our life!
Smiles, Laura

Squares and scalloped squares

The two cards I'm sharing today were made using the 1-1/4" square punch and the scalloped square punch.  For the first card, I used Stampin' Up! Summer Smooches designer paper, Island Indigo and Daffodil Delight card stock.  The sentiment is from the Petite Pairs stamp set.  The card itself is  4-1/4" x 4-1/4". 

 Here is a card made by the same layout with some delicious designer paper my friend Judy brought over to play with.  I used Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler for this card.

This is a layout that can be used in any color scheme, for any occasion.  Just change the sentiment!

Thanks for stopping in today!! Smiles, Laura

Color Challenge.....

I know, it's been "forever" since I have posted an entry.  Needless to say, I've been busy with other things.  Yes, I am still stamping and have some things to show you, but I also have other stuff going on.  I guess it's good for us to stay involved with many things, but there's never enough hours in the day!! 

I do have a sample to show you today. This one was for a color challenge.  We had these two pictures to inspire us

   

Notice the colors, dots, sun-ray like painting?  Well, for my challenge partner, I made this card.

I used Stampin' Up!'s Patterns stack in two color families and also some new designer paper that will be coming out in the new catalog--Floral District.  I smudged the edges of the "rays" so that they blend and show up better.  Here is a close-up of the sentiment.   It is from the Thoughts and Prayers set.

Again I smudged the edges of the wide oval.  It is layered onto a new die cut shape from the new catalog.  It's from the Apothecary Accents Framelits set.  I added the brads and narrow ribbon for interest.

I haven't heard from my swap partner yet.  I hope she likes this one.  And I hope you will come back soon!!
Smiles, Laura

More rounded corners...

I know, I know. "Again?" you ask!  Yes, more rounded corners.  I can't help myself.  And I've seen even more on Pinterest, so I guess rounded corners are "the thing" right now.  I know I love them.

Here is a card I made during my last "play day".  I LOVE this paper.  I need to look up who made it so I can share that with you.  But it has neat colors.  

I decided we needed to make this card in class and thought it would make a good Fathers Day card, so we made this one.

I used the colors from the Neutrals Patterns DSP Stack for the squares.  They are cut 1-1/2" so I did not use a punch on them.  You KNOW I use punches when I can, but I wanted these squares larger.    Since this card was for Fathers Day, I wanted something besides butterflies on it.  So I stamped this car from the Need for Speed set onto Vanilla cardstock and cut it out.

I also stamped the card on designer paper (Crumb Cake) and cut out just the car part and "paper pieced it".  I hate to show you this close-up because my fussy cutting isn't great, but I wanted you to see how it's done.  You could also color in the car.

The sentiment for this one is from the Delightful Dozen set.

Hope these two card inspire you to try some rounded corners yourself!

Stop in again soon, OK?  Smiles, Laura

Birthday Wishes....

The card I'm sharing today is another one we made in class recently.  It was inspired by my friend Regina Andari's card.

The card is Lucky Limeade, layered with Whisper White.  I used designer paper from the Nursery Nest series.  I know, you don't think of that for a birthday card, but I liked the small strips and prints in it.   I cut the "packages" in random sizes--a good way to use scraps of paper you have left.  The "bows" at the top of the packages are punched using the Blossom Layer Triple Layer Punch.  It cuts out three shapes and I used the one that looks like a flower, with half of the "flower" behind the package.

I used another size of the punch out from that punch for the green on the label.  I also used the Decorative Label and Wide Oval (SU calls it "extra-large") for the sentiment.  The sentiment itself is from the Sincere Salutations set, which is being retired at the end of May.  Hate to see that one go!!

See you another day!! Smiles, Laura

Square Card....

The card I'm sharing today was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.  It was a rectangle card but had layers of squares on it, similar to this one.

Mine is a square card in Old Olive (4-1/4" x 4-1/4") with a layer of Tempting Turquoise on it.  I punched out 4 striped squares, in Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Turquoise, and Tangerine Tango, using the 1-3/8" square punch.  I punched out 4 dotted squares in the same 4 colors using the 1-1/4" square punch.  I rounded two opposite corners on each one.  One caution here is to make sure which way you want the stripes to go on the striped squares and trim the corners accordingly.

I mounted the dotted squares onto the striped ones, using dimensionals to pop them up.  I glued them onto black cardstock.  Then I used a large brad to affix a black circle in the center.  I glued the black onto the turquoise layer.  I added a sentiment from the Sweetly Said set.

This is another card that could be made in any color combination and used for any occasion.

Thanks for visiting today.  Smiles, Laura

Happy Birthday, Dillon!

 My grandson, Dillon, will be 14 in early May (where has the time gone???).  Isn't he a handsome fellow!  We celebrated his birthday this past weekend while he was visiting us.  Here is the birthday card I made for him.  I was a bit worried if he'd like his card because it's not a "boy card".  But when he opened it, he said, "Hey, cool card!" so I knew he liked it.  He has been making cards with me since he was 5, so I knew he recognizes "cool" cards.

I first saw this layout on Pinterest and knew I had to make one---but I had to figure out the size of the squares and rectangles--they were not given and besides mine are smaller, I think.  That was a job!  But I love how the card looks looks, once I got it all figured out.

The card itself is Old Olive with Peach Parfait, Pacific Point and So Saffron used on it.  The background is striped Crumb Cake from the Neutrals Patterns DSP Stack.  The little brad-looking things are "bling" I purchased locally.

Below is the first card I made by this layout.  It uses Blushing Bride in the stripe and dotted from the In Colors Patterns DSP Stack.  I made this one for a Challenge Swap.

OK, so that you can make your own, here are the dimensions for the various squares and rectangles.  I hate it when someone posts a neat sample but does not tell how to make it.  So now you can make your own with these dimensions.

For Dillon's card, because I wanted three layers, I "squashed" everything up more and trimmed the top two squares/rectangles so they'd fit on the smaller sheet of designer paper.  Normally I really like three layers but in this case, two layers are fine!!  Oh, and all the squares and rectangles have inked edges and are popped up to give it dimension!

Hope you like these two today!! Smiles, Laura