Happy Halloween!!

Here is one more Halloween card I what to share.  Yes, I used some of the same bats, owls and sentiments on these, and just varied the layouts.  This one is Cajun Crazy, Black and Old Olive.  I think I've given details on the parts of the card on other previous entries.

Here is a close-up of the owl.

Just had to show you this one last Halloween card on Halloween day.  I hate to think it's over until next year!!  OK, now on to fall.  I'll be showing fall cards in the next few days.

Thanks for visiting my blog!!   Smiles, Laura

Warmest of Wishes...

Here is another Halloween card I made.  I LOVE making Halloween cards---almost more than any other season.  This one used the Spider Web embossing folder on grey cardstock for the background.  I sponged some white craft ink on it to make it pop!

I stamped the little owl from the Warmest of Wishes hostess set for this one.  He is stamped in black, with his mask colored with Olive and his bag and beak colored with Cajun Craze.

The little spider on this one is from the Dark and Dreary set.  The sentiment is from the Delightful Dozen set.

The background for the owl's circle is cut out with the Perfect Pennants die from Black and Cajun Craze.  I love the effect of those two decorative circles.

Come back again soon!! Smiles, Laura

Diagonal Halloween....

Yesterday I shared three cards with you using diagonal stripes on them.  I said you can use any designer paper to make any card theme with this layout.  To prove my point, I used these Halloween papers from the Frightful Sight designer paper pack.  Instead of ribbon, I used the Silver Glimmer cardstock on the Halloween card. 

I used the candelabra, spider,and raven from the Dark & Dreary stamp set on this one.  I colored some on the candles.

This is another fun card!  Hope you enjoyed it.  Go try these diagonal strips yourself!! Remember they are cut 1" wide, but you could use any width!

Smiles, Laura

Diagonal Stripes....

I'm sharing three cards today.  They all use the same layout, but different colors.

This first one uses Real Red and Old Olive from the Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack. 

I cut the strips 1" wide.  I glued them onto a piece of red cardstock. 

The wreath on the cards is from the Bright Hopes set.  I stamped it in Olive.  I punched the red "berries" using the smallest eye punch in the Owl Builder Punch.  I tied the 1/8" red ribbon into a small bow to put on the wreath.  I tied Real Red  5/8" grosgrain ribbon around the card.  I didn't realize until later that this is retired ribbon; but you could use Real Red satin ribbon on it.

For this card (below), I used the dotted and striped BOTH from Old Olive.  It looks nice, too, and you can

use either colors.  The sentiment on this one is from the Grateful Greetings stamp set.

You might remember this card (below).  I shared it with you some time back.  Well, the ones I'm sharing today use this same layout but for Christmas cards.  This is a very good way to use up your old scraps of designer paper.  Since the strips are only 1" wide and about 4" long,  you cna use any scraps left over from card fronts to create this layout.
                                                  

Hope you like these three!  Come back again soon!  Smiles, Laura

We have a new baby in our family....

I made this card over a month ago in anticipation of my nephew and his wife having their baby boy.  Well, Elias Ryan arrived last Tuesday and I mailed the card, so now I can share it on my blog.  (Yes, my family reads my blog so I couldn't post it until Elias arrived.)  I did show it on some of the yahoo groups I'm in and at least one person has already CASE'd it and posted it on her blog with a link to mine, so I figured I'd better get it up!!

The little chest of drawers is Bashful Blue and is made from a 4.5" x 11" piece of cardstock that I folded so it would stand up.  I cut it down some so with the "top" on it , it would fit an envelope.  I sponged all the edges of the pieces to give it "dimension".  And I popped up the second drawer with the duckie and bear spilling out so it would look like someone left it open a bit.  Cute!!

To cut out the bottom of the chest to make the legs, I used the Curly Label punch, punching twice.  I also used that same punch to get the shape on the top of the check.   The knobs are made from Marina Mist, punched with the 1/4" circle punch. 

I used the Baby Bundle stamp set for the bib, duckie, bear, and onesie.

 Here is the inside.  I used some retired stamps here but that's OK.

I also wanted to send my sister (the new grandmother) a card and here is the one I made for her and my BIL.  It also is Bashful Blue.  The baby is punch art.  If you even see the heading of my blog, you KNOW I love punch art. 
                                   
 Here is a close-up of the baby.  (Ed.note:  Just found out that Ellen Kemper originally created this baby.  I've seen him on many blogs since.  Thanks, Ellen.)  Can you see that little curl at the top of his head?  Elias is much smaller, but it won't be long before he crawls.

 And here is the sentiment on the front of this one.

I got to personally meet baby Elias today and he's is BEAUTIFUL!!! My nephew was quite proud of him, and rightly so. My sister Cynthia (the grandmother) was so cute holding her first grandchild.  She just doesn't know how her heart will never be hers again!!  There's just something about those grandchildren, as she will learn.

Thanks for looking at these baby cards today.  I had fun making them and anticipating this new life!! We'll all enjoy him!!
Smiles, Laura

NCSUD Blog Hop

Welcome to my blog as the next stop on the NCSUD Holiday Hop. You arrived here from Kathy Hunt's blog.   I hope you are enjoying the hop and see some things today that inspire you. 

The stamp set I'm using today from the Holiday Mini is Gentle Falling.  This is a wonderful set for beautiful fall and Thanksgiving cards.  This first card has the outlines of the oak leaf stamped in three colors on the background in three colors--Perfect Plum, More Mustard, and Old Olive.  On the three panels on the front, I stamped the outlines in black and then the solid leaves stamped in the three colors.  The ribbon on this one is the interesting part.  I used the Black and White striped ribbon and colored the white stripes in the three colors--mustard, plum and olive--using my markers.  I love the fact that this black and white ribbon can be any color you want by using the markers to color it.

My second card is made from Cajun Craze, layered with white and More Mustard.  I stamped the leaves--the oak and maple--in Early Espresso and then over stamped them with the solid images in Perfect Plum, Cajun Craze, and More Mustard.

 This card was one I made for a swap I participated in recently.  It, too, has three panels.  This card is Soft Suede and uses Pool Party behind one of the designer sheets from the Spice Cake pack.  That is wonderful designer paper.  These leaves are stamped in Suede on Pool Party and More Mustard cardstock.  The sentiment is from the Always Thankful stamp set, also in the Holiday Mini.

                                           

 Here is a close-up of the leaves and ribbon. 

My sisters and I are giving a shower for our nephew's bride-to-be this weekend, and I worked on the invitations.  We wanted a fall theme, so I decided to layout the invitations on my computer and to stamp each one with the outline leaves of the smallest leaf in the Gently Falling set.  Don't you think the leaf made a nice border at the top and bottom of this invitation?  The bride was very pleased with them.

This next one has a Tangerine Tango card , layered with Crumb Cake that I ran through the Square Lattice embossing folder.    I stamped leaves in Tangerine, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive on white card stock.  I punched out shapes with the Curly Label punch and glued them behind the white to make a border of Old Olive.  Then I wrapped Hemp Twine around the white.

And one more share:

I have used this "funky fold" layout before. (You'll find it with instructions on how to cut it on my entry on Feb. 23, 2011.  You will have to convert it from a portrait card to a landscape layout but the concept is the same.)  This sample also used the Spice Cake designer paper.  These three leaves were "left over" from the sample I made above so I had to use them.  Ha.  I used the oval Designer Frames embossing folder in Pool Party and cut it out.  Then I stamped the sentiment on vanilla and punched it with the Wide Oval Punch or layer on the frame.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the samples I made with this very versatile stamp set.  Thanks for visiting today.  Now, hop on over to the next stop on the hop at  Lisa Tedder's blog.
Smiles, Laura

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Owl Out on a Limb....

Today I'm showing a card I sent to some of my grand-nephews.    This little owl came from the Warmest of Wishes Hostess set.  I stamped him in black and colored the beak and bag with Pumpkin Pie and the mask using Old Olive.

For the background, I ran black cardstock through the Spider Web embossing folder.  I sponged some vanilla and white ink on it to make it show up more.

Here is a close-up of the little owl.  The grey clouds are punched using the Cupcake Builder punch.

And here is the sentiment--from the Grateful Greetings set. 

Hope you like this one!!  Smiles, Laura

The Devil Made Me Do it!

OK, that title got your attention, right?  Today I am sharing the Halloween card I sent to my friend Regina and my sister Connie and my SIL Mary Ann.  I think they will all like it!!

I had seen a little devil on Ellen Kemper's blog a year or so ago (she's in a punch art "slump" right now while doing some house renovations) and knew I wanted to try one.  I don't remember if hers had a body or not.  I did see another devil on a couple of other blogs this year and theirs did not have a body.  Mine does.

I punched the head using the Owl Builder punch and added the wings from the Bird Builder punch for the ears.  One blossom from the Blossom Petals Builder punch makes the beard.  The nose is the 1/2" circle punch.  The 1/2" circle punch also made the white horns.  I just free-hand cut the body.  I sponged the red pieces to add depth.

Here is the sentiment---from the Delightful Dozen set.  I added a Silver Glimmer cardstock strip to the center of the card.  I think that shine adds alot.

It's fun every year to come up with some new punch art for cards.  I love punch art!!

Visit me often!! Smiles, Laura

Trick or Treat Kitty.....

Yesterday I shared Dillon's Halloween card.  Today I'm sharing one I made for granddaughter Jessica and also for my sister Cynthia.  Both of them have cats so I thought they'd like this one.

I used designer paper from the Frightful Sight pack.  I love this paper!! The fact that it has a black cat on it made it perfect for this card! 

I used the large oval punch for the head and the Curly Label punch made the mask.  The body is also the Large Label Punch.  I used the 5-Petal Flower punch for the ears and for the legs. 

Here is a close-up of the cat.  I sponged some white around the pieces so they show up better.  That moon is punched from Daffodil Delight cardstock, sponged with Cajun Craze.

The bat is the retired SU punch.  I used the Gel pen for the eyes.   I love the Silver Glimmer cardstock and added it down the center of the card.

The sentiment came from the Delightful Dozen set.  Lots of neat sentiments in that set!!  I punched the sentiment using the Modern Label punch, layered that on the Curly Label punch (Cajun) and that onto the Decorative Label punch.

It will be fun to see how Jessica and Cynthia like their card!! 

Stop in again soon!!   Smiles, Laura

Halloween Coffin....

This card will be the Halloween card I am sending to my grandson Dillon.  I saw a coffin box on someone's blog and decided it might be fun to make a coffin card.  He'll like it.  I free-hand cut the pattern.  It's sort of hard because the fold is on an angle on the left side. 

I drew the spider web using the white Signo Gel pen.  Then I stamped the black spider in the center.

I used the Naturally Serif Decorative Strip die to cut the BOO out of white.  I sponged some grey on it.

Here is the inside of the card.  This bat punch by Stampin' Up! was retired last year.  I hate that because it's a great little punch.  Oh, well, I use mine anyway and am so glad I bought it while it was available.

The sentiment is from the Grateful Greetings stamp set.  I hope Dillon likes the card!!  Smiles, Laura

Pam's Giraffe

My friend Pam has thousands (yes, truly thousands) of giraffes in her home.  She has them on her purses, clothes, key chain, everywhere.  So I knew for her birthday I had to make her a giraffe card.  Here is the one I made her. 

I used various punches to build the little fellow.  His head is a 1-1/4" circle, his nose and mouth are the small oval and his ears are the 5-Petal Flower punch.  I just free-hand cut his neck but used 3/4" and 1/2" circle punches for the spots.

The designer paper on this one is from the Spice Cake pack.

Here is a close-up of the face.

I used the Large Oval punch for the sentiment and backed that with a Pear Curly Label and put an Early Espresso Decorative Label behind that.

Hope you like this one!  Stop in another day!! Smiles, Laura

Dasher.....

Remember our deer Dasher that we used so much last Christmas?  Well, we're at it again.  This is a beautiful stamp and so easy to use.  I had this beautiful designer paper with deer on it that just went with Lucky Limeade so I decided to use it and add our own Dasher!  He coordinates so well with the design on the paper.  Yes, it's a simple card, but sometimes it's hard to improve on simple.

 I added small gold "bling" onto each of the curls on Dasher's antlers.  And of course he had to get one on his nose!

 Stampin' Up! new Ruffled Ribbon is great on this card.  I also added three gold "blings" on each side of the sentiment.  I thought that would set it off nicely!  Do you like it??

All these Christmas cards are getting me in the Christmas mood, but never fear---I will have Halloween samples to show you soon.  I've been busy making some cute Halloween cards, too. 

See you another day!! Smiles, Laura

Joy, joy, joy....

I recently purchased the new SU Stocking Accents die and have had fun playing with it.  Here is a card I made using the candy cane on the die to spell out the word JOY.  I used some red and white striped paper for the "letters" (candy cane).  You see more made with these later.  I punched out two of them for the Y and cut one off.  This card is another one in Real Red.  I use a lot of that color this time of year. 

 For the "O" in JOY, I used the Northern Frost strip die to punch out a red snowflake and a white one, then layered the two.  I put a green glimmer brad in the middle of it to coordinate with the background print. 

I think this one turned out to be a cute card, too.  Hope you like it!

Smiles, Laura

Christmas trees....

When we were stamping (playing) the other day, Judy had this paper that she wanted us to use for a card.  We decided to highlight certain trees, so we used a circle die to punch out these three trees.  We cut a larger circle of the Real Red cardstock using the next larger size circle.  The card itself is also Real Red with Wild Wasabi layered on it.  I love that White Dotted Red Ribbon we added.  Yes, this is a simple layout, but it was fun to make!

See you another day!! Smiles, Laura

Beautiful snowflakes...

I know it's really too early to start thinking about snowflakes, but Judy and I were stamping the other day and our focus was on Christmas and winter cards and we were determined to use up some of the mass of designer paper we have both accumulated.  Don't we all collect so much!! We LOVE it but then hoard it!  This one went beautifully with our Stampin' Up! Pool party paper so we used that.  We used the Northern Frost die to punch these snowflakes out. 

 See the silver glimmer brads we added to the center of each flake.  Love those glimmer brads!!

 On this picture you can see some of the beautiful sparkly snowflakes on the designer paper.

 This card has a "barn door" opening.  Her is the inside--more snowflakes.

 Here is a second card made using the same designer paper, just another spot on the sheet.  This one has a LARGE glittery snowflake on it and I could not bear to put anything else over it.  It IS the focal point of this card.  Yes, a simple card, but lovely.  Again, I added a punched snowflake on the front along with my sentiment.

 For this snowflake, I added a clear rhinestone brad to the center of the snowflake.

 Wanted to show you a close-up of that snowflake--maybe you can see the shimmer on it.

I hope this has started you thinking about Christmas cards and winter, too.  We had our first frost yesterday morning - very EARLY in the season for us - so maybe it's time to think of winter.  ha!  Not.  We haven't had our lovely fall yet.  The leaves should peak in color the next two weekends.  Ah, fall!!!

Thanks for stopping by. Smiles, Laura