We're getting closer....

We're getting closer to Christmas and I'm excited. No, nothing special happening here this year, but still I'm like a kid about Christmas! What a wonderful time with family and friends. We have been in most of the week because of the snow we have on the ground so I have had time to stamp! I have been getting ready for my January classes. So I have some shares today.

You've all seen my polar bears I designed and shared--apparently they have become all the rage on lots of blogs. Funny, we have all thought of lots of other "critters" but not polar bears. I made some last year but didn't think to share them. Well, now my customers want to make them, but I didn't want to make a Christmas card in January--so I decided to make a winter card for Valentines. My previous bears showed a mommy and a baby bear. I decided for Valentines, I wanted a male and a female, so this time the one on the right is made larger--using the 1-3/8" circle punch, rather than the 1" circle punch. And I added hearts over their heads to show they are in LOVE. Ha! The heart is punched with the Heart to Heart punch. I stamped the I {heart} U from the A Happy Heart set. That one is my all time favorite Valentines set!!

You've seen the mouse I made earlier, too. Here he is again. Well, again my customers wanted to learn to make him but I wanted a Valentines mouse. So I designed this card (below). This little fellow is holding a heart punched with the Full Heart punch. I stamped the message "always on my mind, forever in my heart" from the Always stamp set inside a circle from the new I {Heart} Hearts set which will be available in the Occasions Mini. (You are going to LOVE the Occasions Mini!!) I just love this little mouse that Ellen Kemper and Lynn Pratt came up with!! Check out their blogs to see how to make him. (I'm sorry that I do not know how to connect a link to their blogs!! I MUST learn how to do that!)

Here's another card I made this week. This one also uses the A Happy Heart and the I {Heart} Hearts sets.

For this one I stamped the dotted heart and cut it out and mounted it on a black heart punched with the new Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit die that will be available in January from the Occasions Mini. (Did I say you are going to LOVE this mini!!) OK, the right edge on this card is alittle different--something new I learned from Debbie Henderson (debbiesdesignsblog.blogspot.com) via Lynn Pratt's blog. (Thanks, girls!!) It's a neat trick using the slit punch. Check out Debbie's blog for step by step instructions.

Well, that's it for today! Check back later for more samples! Have a wonderful wintery day!! Smiles, Laura

You've got to love those UPS men and women!!

If you LOVE getting your packages on time, you've got to love those UPS men and women who deliver to us. My regular UPS guy is David and he's GREAT! He has even put my packages in our cab of our truck and locked it for me when we've been away several days. And he's carried really HEAVY Stampin' Up! boxes inside for me--even though they are not supposed to do that. He and I have a running joke about Oreo cookies because we both LOVE them. I used to always get him the iced Oreos that are only out at Christmas, but for the last couple of years cannot find them. I don't think Nabisco is making them any more. So anyway, this year I got him two packs of the Chirstmas Oreos, with the red filling. He told me yesterday he's already eatten one whole pack and I'm to blame if he gains weight this year (of course he's thin as a rail!). So when I saw this UPS fellow on Ellen Kemper's blog, I just had to make David a Christmas card to let him know how much I appreciate him! Here is his card:Ellen has the punches used on this little fellow listed on her blog so I won't repeat them: Blinkthinkink.blogspot.com. I think I used a few different ones. My fellow's shorts are made using the small tab punch, with the "v" cut with the star punch. And my eyes are alittle different from hers. I did the wording on my computer and punched those ovals with non-SU punches. All the rest of him is made using SU punches. The Stampin' Up! logo on the box was cut from an instruction sheet that came witih my new punches I received yesterday.

I think David will really like him. What do you think? Thanks for stopping in today!! Smiles, Laura

This card made Stampers Showcase!

A friend told me yesterday that one of my cards made Stampers Showcase on the SU website. I had been busy with my grandchildren--shopping, crafting, and going to the Christmas parade--and I had not had time to check the Showcase for a couple of days. Actually I don't check it more than once a week or so. So imagine my surprise when I heard that this sample of mine made the Showcase yesterday!

I do love this Dasher stamp and also the snowflake stamp. I also love the wide striped grosgrain ribbon but it makes a BIG knot to try to mail. Believe me, my post office knows when I'm coming in that I need extra postage on my cards to pay for "bulk". Ha! So I need to find ways to have them not be too thick, especially with all my layers. I decided to tie the SU linen thread around this strip of grosgrain ribbon. It gives it a nice touch, don't you think?

I was very humbled to have this card make Showcase! It's my 4th sample to make it this year--which thrills me! Thanks for celebrating with me!! Smiles, Laura

I love polar bears!!!!

OK, before I tell you about my polar bears, I must tell you that my bag with the moose and Merry Christmoose on it (see my message from Thursday) won first prize at the bag judging at my stamp club Friday night. Yeah!! Thanks again to Lynn Pratt for that design. I must tell you I had some stiff competition and I think the voting was close. Thankfully I took my granddaughter with me and they let her vote. She voted for me and I probably won by one vote! Sounds "fixed", huh? But we win how we can. ha!! I hope the others forgave me!!

OK, on to polar bears.....I love Polar bears!!! Today I’m sharing with you some polar bears I made using our SU punches. I’ve seen lots of “critters” on others’ blogs, but no polar bears. I signed up to participate in challenge with one of my groups for “Using Punches” and these little fellows were what I came up with.

This first sample has a momma and two babies. Her head and body are made using the 1-3/4” circle punch. I used the large oval punch for the snout and just cut it to fit onto the head. The babies are made using the 1” circle punch (I think) and the small oval for the snout. Aren’t they cute!!

I decided to make a momma using the ornament punch for her head. I guess I like it, too, but the circle is my favorite—probably because it was my first design. And I'm not sure the ornament punch makes a large enough head.

Anyway, I love these fellows in the snow! Now, go make some yourself!! Thanks for stopping by today!! Smiles, Laura

I'm BACKKKKKKK!

OK, I know you're asking—“Where have you been??” (At least I hope you are asking that and have missed me!) We have completed the renovations to our house and I’ve been back to stamping. Well, we did take a week off to go on vacation to Florida with my husband’s sister and husband—and had a delightful time. So all the going and doing is DONE and I have been back in my stamp room getting some samples ready to show you. I appreciate those of you who have not abandoned my blog! Honestly, I will try to do better and not be away so long again.

I've changed my blog picture to show one of my little dog Gabby (Taylor Gabriella) under the Christmas tree last year. She was 6 months old then and still left the tree alone! I'm so proud of her. She's still about the same size but I may snap another picture of her soon. This year's tree is safe so far, too. What a good girl!!!

Here is the first card I wanted to share with you.
This little mouse was originally designed by either Lynn Pratt or Ellen Kemper—I’m not sure which, because they both have made him, but I think Ellen. I have made some changes to mine, but basically he is their design. I used the SU Ornament punch for the head and the Snowflake punch for the tree.

Then I decided Singing Mouse needed a buddy, so I made another card with a “leaner” mouse singing with him. Aren’t they cute? The left mouse has ears made using the Butterfly punch and the right mouse used the wide oval for his head. I love these little fellows.

OK, next, I saw a Moose Lynn made and just had to make myself one of those. Here he is:
This little fellow’s nose is made using the wide Oval punch and his head is the Round Tab punch. The ears are made using the Leaves #2 die and the Big Shot. Again, I made a few changes to mine, but he’s basically like Lynn’s. Isn’t he the cutest!!

My stamping club requires us to make a “gift bag” in December for our cards to each other. We decorate a plain white paper bag and then the group members all vote on the best one. I decided this little fellow would be great on my bag this year, so here is my bag I’ll take to tomorrow night’s club meeting:
I rolled down the top of the white bag and added a red cardstock cuff and then put large grommets in it and added a ribbon handle. Of course the package the moose is carrying is “to: Laura”. I hope my bag is a winner this year!!

OK, on to another sample. This one is a direct copy of Jackie Topa’s card, but with different colors used. I just loved a card she shared with one of my groups and HAD to make me one to show my customers. This one, too, is made with punches.
Front:

Inside:
These fellows have hats/heads made using the Ornament punch. The legs are the Modern Label punch and the Hearts to Heart punch makes the shoes.

OK, let’s rest from punches and others’ designs for now. I want to share a card we are making in my December classes. We are starting to work on Valentines because with ordering stamp sets and making the cards, Valentines will be here before you know it!

This card uses the “Whoo’s Your Valentine?” stamp set.

This would be a cute card for a boy. I used the Top Note die to punch the shape for the card, making sure not to cut through the top of the card. When I mounted my stamps, I cut the words out separately and mounted them on the end of the block so I could use them where I wanted. I decided to put, “Chew, Chew, I Like You” as the smoke coming out of the smokestack. Cute, huh?

Here is one for a little girl, using the same set.

I cut a 4” x 4” square and folded all four corners in to the center. Then I folded them back toward the outside, making a neat little spot for the owl! Today in class we decided this would be a great layout for a baby card, saying “peep-a-boo, I’m new” and putting a baby inside the square. Lots of possibilities for this one! I put two Modern Labels punches together to back the scalloped oval for the wording.

Well, that’s it for today. I have a lot more to share soon. I won’t be away so long, so please come back soon!! Smiles, Laura

More Autumn Splendor Samples....

Sorry I've been absent for so long! We have started some home renovations and it has taken all my spare time. Yes, that's paint under my fingernails. But the results will be worth it! So I'm back for today, but if you miss me again, just know that I'm working and WILL return!

I just have to show you more cards made using the Autumn Splendor set. Did I say this is one of my new favorites? I think I did. I just love fall and this set is perfect for cards in the fall. Last time I showed you a monocromatic card using vanilla embossed leaves on More Mustard cardstock. For this card, I sponged on some color first onto Vanilla CS and then embossed the leaves on it--so that you see several colors in the background. I love this effect, don't you? Quick and easy and adds color. For this next card, I sponged on the color first (just like in the card above) but this time I embossed the leaves with clear embossing powder. Then I brayered Soft Suede ink over the card to cover all the colors except what was under the embossed leaves. I love this effect!! You might notice in this card (above) that I also punched out ever larger semi-circles in the layers before tying on the ribbon. That is another way to highlight the layer colors.
I wondered how the card would look if I did not completely cover the background colors, so for this card, I sponged the Soft Suede color, rather than brayering it on. This lets the colors show through a bit and again, I love this effect! I tied the two colors of ribbons to each other, which give it alittle different look.

I hope you like these ways to use this wonderful set. What fun I had making these cards!! Thanks for visiting! Smiles, Laura

Autumn Splendor

We can now order from the new SU Holiday Mini and I'm telling you, it is FULL of so many neat things, I hardly know where to start. This set, Autumn Splendor, is one of my very favorites. At first I thought I would not order it, but then decided I HAD TO HAVE it. I have played with it so much, I'm so glad I bought it!! This is my first card I made.Then I decided to try something different. This one is OK, but I didn't really like this one the best--it needed more layers behind some of the images. So I tried again.This sample was getting there, but still that oval needed a layer behind it. So, back to the drawing board....I finally came up with this card for my class to make this month! I am pleased with it and think my ladies will like it. I uses the new Aumumn Meadows DSP from the Holiday Mini (love that stripe pattern!!) and Taken with Teal, Really Rust and Whisper White CS and Chocolate Chip 3/4" grosgrain ribbon. I love the backing for the acorns. That's two Round Tab punches layered to make a circle. Neat, huh? And I wanted to add that the Thankful Thoughts of You wording is from the new Grateful Greetings set, also in the new Holiday Mini.This card (below) is one I made for a Holiday Mini Swap I participated in. I hope the others in the swap liked my card.Here is one more card to show you. This one uses More Mustard and Very Vanilla CS. I embossed the leaves on it using the retired Very Vanilla embossing powder. Look closely at the ribbon. That's the satin organza ribbon which comes in all white. I colored the center strip with my More Mustard marker and let it dry before adding it. Isn't that a neat way to color the ribbon!! I hope you have enjoyed these cards! I have more Autumn Splendor samples to share with you another time. I tell you, I've had fun with this set!! Thanks for stopping in. Smiles, Laura

Back to school....

My two sweet grandchildren started back to school on Tuesday. Dillon will be in 6th grade and Jessica will be in 3rd. They are in different schools and both do well in class, so they didn't mind starting back--except that it means the end of summer and long visits to our house!

I wanted to make them each a card wishing them good luck this year and just to let them know I was thinking of them. Here are the cards I made each of them. Dillon's is blue and yellow and used some retired SU stamps, current SU punches, and non-SU paper and punches. Jessica's looks more girly and uses Spellbinder dies and non-SU designer paper. But it had numbers and alphabets on the stars so I thought it was perfect for her.
Since both kids love getting their own mail, I hope they like the mail they get today! And I hope they both have a wonderful school year! Smiles, Laura

Butterflies and blue skies....

Butterflies and blue skies---don't you LOVE that title! I love seeing butterflies in the summer. These blue and black butterfies come in our area in late summer and they sure enjoy my husband's zinneas in his garden. He has some beautiful flowers in all colors and sweetly brings me bouquets to the house for our table. I could not resist capturing pictures of these butterflies.

I don't show it here, but one little fellow was near the end of his life cycle, had torn wings and yet still was flitting about enjoying the flowers. We should be like that--enjoying life in spite of our age or infirmaties! What a beautiful blessing from God!!

I did see my first monarch butterfly of the fall yesterday, too, but of course did not get a picture. The monarch butterflies migrate across the Blue Ridge Parkway near us and we oftentimes see a few down our way. I guess they are starting their trip home for the winter. Butterflies are my personal symbol, so I particularly enjoy them---all kinds and colors of them!! Smiles, Laura

A box for tags.....

Here is a neat little tag box I made yseterday, using the Level 2 hostess set Christmas Punch and the Christmas Lounge DSP. I got the instructions from Valerie Stangle and the pattern for the cut-outs on the front from Bev Victory. Thanks to both ladies!! I used the SU thick window sheets to line the cut-out squares. This is a neat little box for tags or any other small pieces. Thanks for looking. Smiles, Laura

Subtle Difference....

This first card is one I made for a Christmas in August swap I am participating in. I'm not sure if you can tell it, but the ornament if covered with Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I used the two way glue pen to adher it. The sets used on this card are Tree Trimmings and Christmas Greetings. The colors are Taken with Teal and Sahara Sand. The designer paper used is Holiday Lounge. I hope the swap participants like it. Then I decided to use some of the darker sheets from the Holiday Lounge paper on one and I added another ornament. I think I liked this even better, but of course all my swaps were in the mail already. I guess any time you keep working on a card, you will always find ways to change and sometime improve it. Thanks for looking!! Smiles, Laura

Here comes fall....

OK, I promised to try a fall card in the "mountainscape" technique. I could not wait!! I just had to go to my stamp room and make one--before the mood passed. Didn't it turn out well---and it makes me WANT fall here! (It's been a hot summer for us. ) I used Crushed Curry for the top mountain range, More Mustard for the second range and Dusty Durango for the closest mountain range. I sponged on some Soft Suede in the foreground and wish I had added just a touch to the highest mountain range. And I added Dusty Durango in the valleys to give it that autumn glow. I hope you will try some of these "mountainscapes" yourself. They are so fun and honestly, I couldn't find anywhere to put any words on them because it covers up the wonderful "view". Smiles, Laura

Mountainscapes....

Everyone is making these landscape-vista-type cards right now. I've seen them on several blogs and other demonstrators have shared their samples in some of my groups. I made my first one in 2005 using a Sell-a-bration set. Here is that one. These look just like the mountains we see around our home--we live in the NC mountains. My friend Regina has named these cards "mountainscapes" and I like that name and will use it for mine.

This technique is made by tearing cardstock to resemble mountain shapes. You want to start about 1/3 way down the card and sponge on color BELOW the torn cardstock. Ones tendancy is to put color ABOVE the tear, but that's not right. Some people sponge on the color and some use the rubber brayer to applying it. I could not get my brayer to add color without lines in it and found the sponge worked much better for me (I had more control). Add your highest mountain range, then drop down with a different piece of torn cardstock--so the mountains have different peaks and valleys--and add your second range of mountains. Then drop to the third range, adding your green color, and finish off with a lighter green for the close up "ground" color. I say it's kind of like looking off into the distance and then slowly dropping your eyes to your feet.

For the top card, I started with Bordering Blue, then added Ballet Blue. then Always Artichoke, and finally Celery Green. To add the sun, punch a 3/4" circle in a piece of cardstock. Apply Barely Banana inside that circle until you have it dark enough. Remove the cardstock with the circle and add more yellow around the sun, for that afternoon glow. Finally sponge in some Bashful Blue in the sky and also between the different mountain ranges to look like our "Blue Ridge Mountains" or "Great Smoky Mountains"--like fog in the valleys.

You can stamp whatever grasses/flowers/weeds you'd like in the foreground and you can add some "tree leaves" at the top, as if you are viewing the mountainscape between some trees. I've seen views just like this from the Blue Ridge Parkway!!

I have one more to show--an "evening" mountainscape. I love this one, too. I used the same torn templates, but the colors I used are Almost Amethyst for the sky, Lavender Lace for the highest mountain range, Orchid Opulence for the next range and Rich Razzleberry for the bottom color.

To get the moon, you want to punch a 3/4" circle from a "sticky note" and tack the moon onto the sky, and apply Amethyst around it so the moon stays white.

Well, I hope these have inspired you. They are so fun to make. What's so great is that no two are alike--just as no two mountain ranges are the same. I want to make one with golds, reds and brown--a FALL mountainscape. I'll share it when I get it made. Thanks for patiently waiting for me to return to my blog. I've had a busy month with the grandchildren!! Smiles, Laura

Celebreate July 4th with Uncle Sam...

I've shared this little Uncle Sam I made with several yahoo groups (some other demonstators have even made variations of him) but I haven't shared him on my blog, so I decided to do so for the July 4th weekend. He's made using the Top Note die (several colors of CS) and several punches. I asked around, thinking surely someone else had made one, but none turned up so I had to make one myself! I love how he turned out. I made this fellow, attached him to Blue CS and put him on a little white bag, for a cute July 4th "treat bag". I sent that one to SU! Hope you all have a happy 4th of July! I'm heading to my sisters, so you'll hear from me Thursday! Be safe!! Smiles, Laura

Celebrating Helen...

(OK, I'm sharing several samples today, to make it up to you for being absent all last week. ha!)Recently a bunch of us friends got together for lunch to celebreate Helen's birthday. There are 7 of us who do this when one of us has a birthday. It is so fun and we all look forward to these times together! I had seen these "women" made from punches and shared by Chitchi Tabora and I decided I wanted to make a card for Helen using them. I KNEW the girls would love it. I used 6 since 6 of us were joining Helen for her birthday! Here is the inside:Oops! Sorry, Helen, for sharing your age, but this was too good to leave out! Ha! I think the girls all enjoyed this one! No SU sets were used (I did the words on my computer) but the "bodies" and "clothes" are made using the large SU heart punch and the head, hair, ears, and glasses are made using various other punches. I just free-hand cut the mouths. Hope you like this one!! Smiles, Laura

More Side Steps

Thought I'd share more of my side steps samples today. I hope you are enjoying these!! This one is a fun one for the upcoming July 4 holiday weekend and was inspired by a sample by card-maker extraordinare Connie Babbert. I hope it looks like fireworks in the night sky to you because that's what it is supposed to look like. I used the Sizzix Daisies #2 die to punch out these "fireworks bursts" using white, Real Red and Brilliant Blue CS. I decided I wanted mine in the night sky, so I used black for my background. It's hard to see the black and the side steps here with the dark background. (I'm going to have to find a better place/way to photograph my samples!) I think this sample has a 2" left (un-folded) side. Remember, you can make the steps on either side of these cards and can leave the un-scored portion as wide as you'd like.

Here is another one. This sample uses Almost Amethyst, Bashful Blue and Orchid Opulence cardstock. It uses the flower from the Embrace Life set. I love the delicate colors on this one. It also uses the Floating Re-inker technique.

And one last one I just have to share. I LOVE the butterfly from the Flores suaves set (from the SU Spanish language catalog). If you don't have that catalog, you are missing out on this beautiful set because it isn't in the regular SU catalog. For this one, I used Tangerine Tango and Summer Sun cardstock. I embossed the butterflies with gold on the Shimmery white CS and then used the Floating Re-Inker technique to color them. Aren't they GREAT!!! The quote on this one is from the Full of Life stamp set. It was in the Occasions 2008 mini catalog and will be in the new 2009-2010 catalog.

Well, thanks for looking today! I hope you are inspired to create!! Smiles, Laura

Note: I have seen these side-step cards (which are a variation of the Stair Step card layout) on many blogs and other sources, so I hestiate to give credit for the layout--for fear of leaving someone out. But I know I have instructions for it from Yvonne Metz and Cathy Seals. (I did draw my own instructions shared yesterday.) I understand that Yvonne was inspired by Kim Wilson and Jackie Topa, but I've seen lots of great samples by other wonderful stampers. This is one concern I have with a blog--once a layout or technique has been shared, you see it in alot of places and it is very hard to give proper credit to the real originator! Thanks to everyone who shares!!

Step Aside for Side Steps!!

I know lots of stampers have shown "side steps" cards on their blogs. Well, I have been making some, too, but waiting until after today's class to share my samples with you. I wanted my ladies coming to class to be surprised! They were and they LOVED these samples. Here is the one we are making in class, using the Flower Fancy Stamp set. I don't know if you can see the Dazzling Diamonds glitter in the center of the flowers (including the small flower) or not, but it's there. I think this makes it "pop". Here's the layout of how to score and cut your card: I hope you can read my numbers. If not, email me! My card for class has a 3" side that isn't scored, but you can make this any width you wish. Some of my samples have 2" on the left side. This sample has a 2" side that isn't scored (isn't the "steps"). Here is another sample:

I hope these samples have inspired you and you are off to make some side-steps off your own. I have a couple more samples, but will share those tomorrow. Check back then! Thanks for looking today!
Smiles, Laura