Deer at Christmas---well, barely after Christmas.

OK, look away if you don't believe in killing Bambi because this picture is of a buck my husband shot last month.  He is an 8-point and my husband was thrilled with the kill.  Frank does always thank the spirit of those animals he kils for providing us with meat. Yes, we eat the meat---of anything he kills--and enjoyed some from this fellow for dinner several times so far. 

I just had to show that nice fellow is a lead in for my card today.  It has the buck reindeer from Winter Post on it.  This card happens to be a masculine birthday card but I also made some cards like this as Christmas cards--just added different sentiment.

The designer paper used for this card is from the Letters to Santa series. It doesn't look like Christmas paper, but instead has a nice masculine look to it. 

I used the Decorative Label, the Large oval and the 1-3/8" circle punches and the Lots of Tags die to make the sentiment on this one!  The sentiment is from the Petite Pairs set.  Love that set!!

See you here again!  Smiles, Laura

Color Challenge.Sample......

Recently I participated in a color challenge.  We were given this pictures (below) to inspire our sample.  I love the colors and Tempting Turquoise, Early Espresso and Whisper White are the colors I decided to use.

Here is my card I made for my challenge partner.  The card is Espresso, layered with Turquoise that I ran through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  I used a strip of striped Tempting Turquoise from the Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack to go down the card.  I put Espresso behind that, which I had punched using my Scallop Trim Border for edging. 

How do you like my "kiss" cholocate?  I realized a few months ago that the largest petal on the Blossom Petal Builder Punch would make a delightful "Hershey's Kiss" and have been saving it to use for Valentines! 

Well, this challenge pictures just begged me to use it now.  I put tiny pearls from the Jewels pack all over the kiss.  The "I love you" sentiment is from Three Little Words stamp set.  The sentiment "Sweets for the Sweet" is from the Sweets for the Sweet stamp set.

I used the Designer Frames oval embossing folder as a backing for the "kiss."

The "sweets for the sweet" sentiment is punched from the 1-1/4" circle punch, layered onto a turquoise Scallop Oval and that is layered onto a Wide Oval of Espresso.

I hope my swap partner liked this card!! I had fun making it!!

Smiles, Laura

Beautiful Season....

I had decided I would not purchase this stamp set and then I saw a card using it and decided I HAD to buy this set.  It is a beautiful set--called Beautiful Season!

This card is white, layered with Cherry Cobbler, and then topped with white cardstock.  I stamped the chickadee image on the white using black ink.  Then I stamped it again on another sheet and punched out just the bird with my 1-3/8" circle punch.  I colored that bird and popped it up over the original image.

I punched the Lace Ribbon Border from Cherry Cobbler cardstock and ran Very Vanilla 1/8" taffeta ribbon through it.  I topped each flower on that with a Pearl Jewel.

I like how this card turned out.  I hope it inspires you!  Smiles, Laura

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

Woven Ribbon....

I saw something in a stamping magazine the other day that inspired this card.  The person had woven either ribbon or designer paper (I can't remember which) and covered the front of a card.  I decided to give it a try.

This card is white, layered with Basic Black cardstock that I wrapped the Stampin' Up! 1-1/4" black and white striped grosgrain ribbon around.  I used 3 pieces horizontally and 4 pieces vertically and wove them together.  I then glued them around the black cardstock and added a red satin ribbon.

For my sentiment, I used a stamp from the Perfect Punches set.  I stamped it in Black and Red (twice) and then punched the various circles out and the scalloped circle out and glued 3 layers--red, then black,then red.  I like this touch on the card!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I have shared all my fall/grateful cards, so you get a Christmas card on Thanksgiving.  Such is life.  We are spending Thanksgiving with my dad, so I'll get back to you on Monday!

Thanks for visitng!

Smiles, Laura

Snow in Capital Letters....

I love using letters to spell out words on cards.  These letters from the Serf Essentials Alphabet die set are LARGE, but I like using them occasionally. 

For this card, I ran the Baja Breeze card (the front half) through the Big Shot using the Snow Burst embossing folder to give it texture. 

I wanted the snow letters to have some sparkle to them, so I used my two-way glue pen on some areas of the letters, then dipped them in Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  Love that effect. You can see it a bit in this picture.
                                    
This shot also shows the individual snowflakes I added.  I used the Silver Glimmer paper for them.  First I peeled the back layer of paper off it, then ran the paper through the Big Shot with the Northern Frost die.  You might need to use a shim to get it to cut totally through the glimmer paper.  But the results are worth it. 

No, I'm not looking for snow yet, but I am about ready for the holidays to be here.  Hope you are too!!
Thanks for visiting my blog today!  Smiles, Laura

Single Snowflake....

Is this an elegant card or what?  Sometime I make a card that I just KNOW will be a hit.  We are making this one in class this month and we all loved it. 

The card is made from Concord Crush cardstock.  I layered that with Whisper White with the sentiment stamped on it.

Next I cut a rectangle of Concord and punched a snowflake out using the Snowflake punch.  It looks like there is a white snowflake glued onto the concord card, but no, it's punched out. 

I popped up the small  Concord card on the front of the white cardstock and glued one large rhinestone jewel in the middle of the snowflake. The small Corncord card part has a Pear Pizzazz ribbon tied around it.

Here is a close-up of the snowflake so you can see how popping it up allowed you to see under it a bit.

This shows the rhinestone in the center.

My class agreed this is the ideal Christmas card:  it is elegant, yet simple enough that you could make a BUNCH of them pretty quickly.  That's what we all want, right?

Come back to see me again soon!! Smiles, Laura

Christmas Tree lights....

What can I say?  I LOVE this card!!  I've shared this "funky folds" layout several times.  I just had to use the Stocking Accents die to make some lights to put on this card. 

My card is made from Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  I layered Wild Wasabi on the front of the middle. That dotted paper is from the Holly Berry Bouquete series.

The bulbs are cut from Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, and Tempting Turquoise cardstock. I sponged color around the edges of each one to give it the illusion of dimension.  But I also popped them up on the "string"  That black string is just drawn on using a black pen.  I used brushed silver cardstock also cut using the Stocking Accents die for the tops of the bulbs.

The sentiment is from the Petite Pairs set.  I layered the large oval onto a Daffodil tag cut from the Lots of Tags die set.

Here is a side view of the "funky folds" card opened up.  I think anyone would love this card!  Here is the "how to" picture I shared back in February  to show you how to make this card.

Isn't it fun!! Got out and make your own now. 

Thanks for coming by today.  Smiles, Laura

Let's go four wheeling....

We always need a masculine card, don't we? Well, this one fits the bill.  The card is Early Espresso.  I layered it with Not Quite Navy that I ran through the Square Lattice embossing folder. 

I took a 3" Cajun Craze square and cut it in half diagonally.  Then I layered it with triangles of the Well Worn designer series paper.

The center 4-wheeler is from the Need for Speed stamp set.  That is a wonderful set because it had a fast boat, car, plane and 4-wheeler---all great for cards for men and boys!  I colored it with my aqua painter and ink pads.

The sentiment "spoil yourself today" is from the Bring on the Cake stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by today!! Smiles, Laura

Gold Fall Leaves....

Recently during one of my days devoted to stamping, I went back to the main reason I started stamping in the first place---gold embossing!!  About 12 years ago, a few friends and I got together to stamp with the few stamps we all had.  At that time, I thought any card that was pretty had to have gold embossing on it. 

Once I found Stampin' Up! and their beautiful stamps and paper and ink, I dropped that embossing thing and now hardly ever emboss.  That back then, I loved gold embossing. 

So this card has leaves embossed with gold embossing powder and then colored in with my aqua painter and SU inks.

This is the Gently Falling set which I've used on my blog several times.  The card itself is More Mustard cardstock, layered with Soft Suede and then the leaves are embossed on Very Vanilla.

I put ribbon around two opposite corners for alittle added interest.

Here is another card I made the same day.  It, too, has gold embossing but not so many leaves.  And the ribbon is just tied around the card.

Both of these cards would make great fall cards to send to someone to whom you want to express gratitude.

And I'm thankful to you for continuing to visit my blog! Come again soon!

Smiles, Laura

Day of Gratitude Again....

Today I'm sharing another card I made using the Day of Gratitude stamp set.  this card is made using More Mustard, layered with Soft Suede.  I ran the suede through the Square Lattice embossing folder.  I punched a long piece of Cajun Craze with the Lace Ribbon Border Punch to put down the left side of this card. 

I told you on my November 2 entry how to make this medallion.   Go back to that entry to see how.

I embossed the sentiment in white for the bottom of this card. on Pear Pizzazz, then punched it with the Wide Oval Punch.  I layered it on a Decorative Label punch from mustard cardstock.

I think this one will be a hit!  See you soon, I hope!

Smiles, Laura

Two Candy Canes

Today we are going to use the Stocking Accents die again to make candy canes.  This is another fun one.  This card uses Real Red and Old Olive, including the designer paper from the Brights Patterns DSP Stack. 

I told you in my last entry how to make the cnady canes--cut a red and a white one, and glue every other section of the white onto the red.  (The die has perferations to showing where to cut.)  I crossed these two and tied a ribbon around them both.

This sentiment is from the Occasions Alphabet set.  I stamped it on white and punched it with the Scallop Oval punch, then layered that onto a Wide Oval punch in olive.

I added three little rhinestone jewels at the bottom for "bling".

I'll be showing some other cards made using the Stocking Accents in the near future.  Visit often!!

Smiles, Laura

Candy Cane Fun....

I bought the Stocking Accents from the Holiday Mini and have had so much fun playing with it. Here is a cute candy cane card I made using the die.  We made this card in class and my customers thought it was a bit of work, but you can make these while you watch TV one evening.

Let's talk about the background on this one.  One day when friend Judy and I were stamping, we used some non-Stampin' Up! paper to "try" this card.  I had this designer paper on hand and used it.  But for class I wanted to use Stampin' Up! paper.  So for this card, first I stamped the little red images on Baja Breeze paper from the Subtles Patterns DSP Stack using the French Foliage set.  Then I ran it though the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and then I sanded it with a sanding block.  Look closely at these two cards.  Doesn't the "created" paper give the same effect as the original designer paper?

Here is a close-up of the sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.

Now here is the candy cane.  For it, you need to cut both a red and a white one using the die and Big Shot.  Then cut off every one white one and glue it onto the red one.  That's what I meant about doing this while you watch TV or some other activity.  I tied a Baja Breeze seam tape ribbon around it.

Some might not think the Baja Breeze is a "traditional" Christmas color, but I like this card!! 

Well, more later.  Have a great day and come back soon!!  Smiles, Laura

Grateful....

Here is a card I made the other day using Pear Pizzazz layered with River Rock.  I topped that with this delightful designer paper from the Spice Cake collection. 

For the sentiment, I used the oval from the Designer Frames embossing folder set with Pear and cut around it.  I love how it has those raised dots and WISH we had an oval die or punch that would punch it out.  But I cut it with scissors.  Then I punched out a River Rock oval using the Wide Oval punch.  I inked the "Grateful" word of the "Grateful Greetings" stamp from the Grateful Greetings stamp set (I know, that's alot of GRATEFUL) with my Always Artichoke marker and stamped in.  It is on vanilla cardstock.  Then I punched it with my Decorative Label punch.  I reinserted the cardstock in the punch, just barely in, and punched it again to make a narrow label.  Love it!!

I cut a small snip of Victoria Crochet Trim and attached it to the edge with a Green Circle Ice Rhinestone brad.  Hard to see that green here, but it shows up well in real life.

This isn't a hard or complicated card, but a nice one to send to someone to express your appreciation for them.   And I appreciate your visit to my blog today!!

Smiles, Laura

Green Pear....

Here is a card I created recently using the hostess set, Faith in Nature.  Everyone seems to love this set.  I used the pink and green designer paper from the Letters to Santa pack.  Yes, honest, it does have this pink and green paper in it.  I couldn't see it on a Christmas card, but could on this one.

Here is the pear.  I colored it green---yes, all the pears I've been making pear preserves from have been green, not yellow.  This card is Lucky Limeade and I used Blushing Bride with it.

You can see here that I embossed the background pink using the Houndstooth embossing folder.  Love that new one!

Thanks for checking out my blog today.  See you soon!! Smiles, Laura

Day of Gratitude....

Did you notice my new banner photo?  I put several cards on it, including the one I'm sharing today.  I love this Day of Gratitude medallion.  I saw one colored similar to this one on Regina Andari's blog and found out later she made if using MDS.  Mine is stamped with VersaMark ink on white cardstock and embossed with white embossing powder.  Then I "burnished" it using sponge daubers with four colors--Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, and Soft Suede.  Then I cut out the medallion to put on this card.  This card using the "funky folds" layout I've shared with you before.  Check some of my earlier entries for instructions.

Here is a close-up of that medallion

I love the fall colors on this one.  And that sentiment from the Days of Gratitude stamp set. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I'll have more fall samples to share in the days to come.

Smiles, Laura

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