Sick? Ick!

It's been so long since I posted! I'm sorry!  It is a busy time of year and other things have taken precedent over my blog.  I finally made time today to show you a new card.

This is a card I made for my friend Joan when she had surgery recently.  Technically she wasn't sick, but I like this "sick-ick" stamp from the Word Play stampset  and had to use it.  I saw this little face fellow somewhere and had to use him on a card.

The card itself is Sahara Sand, layered with Wild Wasabi cardstock with So Saffron designer paper atop that.

The little face is punched using the 1-3/4" circle punch and I used various smaller circle punches for his eyes and "spots".  His tongue is made using Blushing Bride cardstock and the Word Window punch.

Here is a close-up of the face.  I used the white gel pen for accents on it.

Here is another card I made turned landscape with a red tongue on this fellow. 

Joan liked her card and I think it cheered up her day!

Hope you all have a good one.  I will try not to be away so long next time.

Smiles, Laura

Comfort and Joy....

I've been absent a few days.  We had a rather sad Thanksgiving.  My step-mother had been in declining health for some time and was in Hospice care. She passed away Thanksgiving afternoon.  Such a sad time for my dad--for us all.  My husband and I were there with Dad and with her when she slipped away.  So I've been out of town with family since last Wednesday.  I am glad to be back with you all and back into my own routine.

Here is a card I made recently using the Stars die.  The card itself is Concord Crush cardstock, layered with Brushed silver and topped with Wisteria Wonder that I ran through the Snow Burst embossing folder.  

I punched the stars from Silver glimmer paper that I had torn the back layer of paper off--so it was not as heavy.  I embossed the sentiment (from the Word Play stamp set) on Concord Crush cardstock with silver embossing powder.  I punched this out with the Decorative Layer punch.  I backed the with brushed silver card stock also punched with the Decorative Layer punch.  The very smallest star on the "JOY" and on the card was punched using a little punch I had on hand.

Hope you enjoy this one!  Thanks for visiting!  Smiles, Laura

Wish Big....

I LOVE finding several uses for each punch I own--it makes the investment in these punches more worthwhile.  Well, on the card I'm sharing today, I used two petals from the Blossom Petals Builder punch to make the flame and center of the flame.  I saw this candle on the Artistic Avenger's (Carrie Gaskin)  blog but she did not have the inside "hottest" part of the flame.  I thought of that myself and think it adds alot to the candle.  I used So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie for the flame colors, and sponged around both with the Pumpkin ink to add depth.  I used the white gel pen for the white "light reflection" on each candle.

This card itself is 4.25" x 4.25" when folded up, so the candles can stick up above the card and it still fits nicely into our medium envelopes for mailing.  This card is made from Pear Pizzazz cardstock, layered with Tempting Turquoise and topped off with In Colors Patterns DSP.

The beauty of this card is that you can pick ANY scraps you have to make the candles--candles can be ANY color.  It's a great way to use up those bits of DSP!!  I sponged the edges of the candles to make them look more "rounded" and I used the Small Oval punch to punch out the tops of each candle.

                                

 Here is the same layout, with a Soft Suede card layered with Bashful Blue color theme, and topped again with the Patterns DSP.  The candles are different colors on this one, but you get the idea--you can use anything.

The sentiment on this card, Wish Big, is from the Word Play set.  I colored the various letters using markers so they would be different colors.  And I sponged around the edge of this square, too.

Don't you think this is a neat birthday card to send!!   I made several for my June birthdays!  I hope the folks getting them liked them.

Thanks for visiting today!!  See you another day!!

Ed. Note:  I finally found the original card by Carrie that inspired me and actually I'd say I CASE'd her card!  My candles are a bit different but the layout and using 3 candles was her idea.  Thanks, Carrie!!  Check hers out at http://www.artisticavenger.com/ .

Smiles, Laura

Happy "I DO" Day....

My cousin's son is getting married this month and here is a card I designed for them--and for my May classes.  It has alot of details on it but is a really pretty one when you get finished.  The card itself is Basic Gray.  I ran a layer of White through the Framed Tulips embossing folder for the front of the card.

The "bride" and "groom" hearts are layered on gray hearts cut using the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit die.  I punched the "bride" white heart using the Full Heart punch and then ran it through the Elegant Lines embossing folder.  I positioned it so that two small  circles would be in the center so that I could add Pearl Jewels in the circles. 

For the groom, I punched both a white and black heart and then cut the center out of the black one, so that it looks like two sides of a jacket.  I used the Two-Step Owl punch to punch the two little black hearts for the "bow tie".  Then I added three black brads for the shirt's buttons.

The striped paper is Basic Gray from the Patterns Designer Series Stack in Neutrals.  I layered that on Basic Gray for a border.  I tied a black 1/8" ribbon around that for interest and dimension.

 
I used this sentiment--Happy I DO Day-- from the Word Play set and stamped it in Basic Gray on white.  I punched this with the Curly Label punch and layered that on another Curly Label in Basic Gray.  I cut the gray one in half, to back the white one.
 
I wanted that little ring to really pop out, so I used a Rhinestone Jewel for the stone on the ring. 

My cousin loves homemade cards, so I think they are going to like this one!!

Thanks for stopping by today.  Come back soon! Smiles, Laura

More calendars--May - August

I thought I'd share more of my decorated calendars with you today.  These are so much fun to use each month.  Here is May:  The stamps are from the Every Moment and Word Play stamp sets.

 This one is for June.  I am posting a close-up of it so you can see how I stamped the band for the hat on designer paper and cut it out.  It's called paper piecing.  Makes a nice band, doesn't it? 

 This is July.  I used this stamp set last July for my Dad's birthday celebration.  I love this one!!  The sentiment is from the Service and Sacrifice stamp set and it so describes my dad!

 And finally, here is August.  August is a "lazy cat" sort of time.  The stamp set is the Peace Within set. 

Hope these has inspired you.  Come back tomorrow and I'll share more stamping!! Smiles, Laura

You're in my thoughts, in my heart....

This month we made this easel card in class.  It was a hit, so I thought I'd share it with you.  The card is Real Red and is cut 4-1/4" x 8-1/2".  You score it at 4-1/4" and 2-1/8".  That makes the fold you will see in the second picture below.

You also cut a piece of red cardstock 4-1/4" x 4-1/4" to be the front of the card.  I layered designer paper from the Celebrations pack on that (cut 4"x4") and the freehand cut a white heart.  I ran it through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and layered it on the card on the right, letting it run off the card at the side and bottom and cut those off.  I put the sentiment from Word Play on a white piece and layered that on red cardstock.

Here is the side and inside view of the card.  I stamped a sentiment on the inside white piece of cardstock, and layered a red heart (punched out with our Large Heart punch).  Again, I let that heart go off the paper on the side and bottom to match the front heart.

You then glue the front to half of the folded front which forms the "easel".  This is a neat layout to stand on a table or on the food tray of a hospital patient.  Neat, huh?

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you can make your own easel card.  Come back soon!! Smiles, Laura

You Mean the World 2 Me!

Today's share is made using the Work Play stamp set.  I made this one in my favorite colors--Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, and Crumb Cake.  I know you've noticed I use these colors ALOT.  But in all fairness, what color goes with the "water" on the Earth better than our Baja Breeze! 

 I stamped the sentiment using Soft Suede.  I stamped the Earth part on a second piece of Vanilla cardstock and colored it with my aqua painter and some re-inker.  Then I punched it out with a 3/4" circle punch and popped it up on the original sentiment with a dimensional to make it look "real".  Here is a close-up of that.

The strips at the bottom of the card are cut from Elegant Soiree designer series paper--each 3/4" wide.  I put a Soft Suede strip across the top of the DSP and tied a Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon around it. 

This is another layout that you could use any stamp set at the top and any color scheme for the bottom strips.  Hey, I think I'll make a Christmas card like this.  OK, I'm off to the stamp room.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Smiles, Laura

Since we're talking fall....

Yes, we were talking fall with my post yesterday...anyway, since we're talking fall, here is another card I want that I wanted to share.  Again, hopefully a fall look.

                              

I used the stamp set Autumn Splendor for this one.  The card itself is Soft Suede and I put Tangerine Tango on the front.  On the Tangerine, I stamped leaves in suede to make a background. 

I also stamped three leaves, but on vanilla in Old Olive, Cajun Craze and Tangerine Tango.  For the middle one, I stamped the leaf again in Suede and colored it with Cajun and cut it out.  It is mounted with dimensionals so that it is raised a bit.  I sponged with Suede around the Vanilla before backing it with Old Olive.  I used the Photo Corners punch to put Olive and Cajun corners on the picture.

                            

The sentiment is from the Word Play set.  I punched the Vanilla it is stamped on out with the new Decorative Label punch from the Holiday Mini catalog.  Again, the edges are sponged with Suede to give it more of a fall look.  See the ovals sticking out on each side?  I punched a Large oval out of Cajun Craze cardstock and cut it in half, putting one on each side.  I did the same with the Model Label punch, punching it from the Old Olive cardstock and sponging the edges.  I added brads for dimension.

Now doesn't this one make you think of fall?  I'm ready!!

Smiles, Laura

Sick? Ick!

I love this new wording stamp--SICK with ICK highlighted in the middle! It is icky to be sick!! This is one stamp in the Word Play set--a new one in the new SU 2010-2011 Catalog. This is a cute card to send to a sick person to cheer them up. It uses the new SU Two-Step Owl punch. I tried to fix his eyes crazy like he feels sickly. I used Soft Suede and Baja Breeze with the new Elegant Soiree designed paper (his chest). Yes, the owl punch punches it all out! What a great punch so you can make the owl so many different ways!I punched a limb/leaf from the Two-Step Bird punch for our little fellow to "sit" on.

Here (below) is a close up of the SICK words. I stamped them first on Crumb Cake and then again on Baja Breeze and cut that out. I wanted the "ick" to stand out! Isn't this a neat card? Thanks for stopping by today. Smiles, Laura

We're having a party....

A Tropical Party, that is.... That's the name of this stamp set that retires at the end of August. I hate to see this one go because it has been such a fun one to play with. The card I'm sharing today using a layout I shared on August 5. I like this versatile layout! I stamped So Worth the Wait from the Word Play stamp set and put the tree and coconut with it. A vacation at the beach or on a tropical isle WOULD be so worth the wait, so the wording is appropriate.

The designer paper used on this one is from the Island Oasis, and it will be retiring at the end of August, too. But it has been so fun to play with! I like how the palm tree top spills over off the oval. And I popped up the coconut drink with dimensionals to make it stand out a bit. Doesn't this just make you want to go sit in the sun and have a "cool refreshing adult beverage?" Ha!

Come back again, ya hear! Smiles, Laura