Same layout, different cards....

I thought I'd share a layout with you today that's a neat one to use.  I made several different cards with it, using different cardstock colors and different designer paper and yes, different sentiments.  I like a layout that is easy enough to make that I can do many cards ahead to send when needed.

The designer paper for the two front panels are cut 1-1/2" x 3-3/4".  The backing cardsticj is cut 1-3/4" x 4".  In the case, I used the new pAleated satin ribbon and wrapped it around each panel.  Then I stamped the flowers from the Apothecary Art set and cut it out. (It has a border as part of the stamp.)   I used the Labels die to cut out a backing for it. 

I stamped the sentiment from Loving Thoughts onto Peach cardstock, layered that with Pear and glued it onto the image.  The whole sentiment piece is popped up with dimensionals.

 Here is the same card with different colors and different ribbon, made for a Sympathy card.

 For this one, I decided to stand the card up "portrait" format and  added a bow.

 And here is the card made with Poppy Parade and Everyday Enchantment designer paper. 

As you can see, the colors make this cord look different, but still with the same size and layout.  Hope you can make some with this same layout!

Thanks for visiting!  Smiles, Laura

Big Hug....

I made this card the other day for my brother-in-law who has been in the hospital and a care facility for several weeks.  I know days are long for him and I am trying to come up with masculine cards to cheer his days. 

I love the Hostess set Perfect Words because it has several great sentiments in the set.  I especially the "Big Hug" one.  Sometimes I sign my email messages with "Big Hugs" (before the "Smiles, Laura" of course) and I really wanted to give my BIL a long distant big hug.  So I thought of our bear in the Under the Stars set.  He looks like he is about to give someone a big bear hug. 

The card itself is Crumb Cake and I layered that with Very Vanilla.  I used various 5/8" wide strips of designer paper to make the various strips down the paper.  I notched the ends and just glued them in the center so they flare out a bit.

 In this shot, you can see how the ends of the strips are not attached but rather flare out. 

I stamped the bear in Crumb Cake and then stamped "Big Hug" over him in Soft Suede.  I sponged the edges of this piece of cardstock and affixed it with dimentionals.  And I stamped the little raccoon in the bottom right corner to fill space and to add more humor to the card.

I think my BIL really liked the card!  I hope he "felt" the hug!  Get well soon, Billy!!

Smiles (and big hugs), Laura

Cascading Valentine Card....

Today I want to share with you a couple of cards I made recently to send to friends and family.  This fold was originally designed by Sonia Steller on 12x12 cardstck and she called it a Cascade Card.  Then Mississippi McGyver (Marilynn--no last name given--why do some people do that, not give a last name on their blogs???) then designed it to fit on a 8.5" x 11" sheet of cardstock and she called it an Interlocking Folded Card.  Mine is made from a 8.5" x 11" sheet of cardstock and  I am calling mine a Cascading card.  No matter what you call it, it is a neat layout!!  I'll be making more of these.

 Here is the same card in purples and olive using retired Stampin' Up! designer paper.  These went to my sisters and they don't care if the paper is retired---just that it's pretty!  ha!  The card can be created from one sheet of cardstock.  We will be making a card using this layout in  my upcoming classes and then I will post instructions for you.  (Editorial note:  Go to my March 25, 2012, post to see how to make this card.  Complete instructions/layout/measurements there.)

Here are two more cards I made to send to friends and relatives. 

 This one was inspired by Connie Babbert and a card she made. 

OK, I could go on and on sharing Valentine cards.  What a fun time of year.  I hope you and your "love" do something special on Valentines day!  Come back soon!  Smiles, Laura

Valetine Day is almost here....

Well, Valentines Day is almost here!  I still have some Valentines to get in the mail tomorrow, but most of mine have been sent to out-of-town folks.  I always send my three sisters cards on every occasion.  They enjoy my work and seem to appreciate getting the cards.  I think they all keep them, but my youngest sister Cynthia always puts out all her cards I've sent her for the particular occasion---like part of her decorations.  I am flattered to the heart that she would save them and then display them all each year.  Last summer I saw all her Fourth of July cards she had out and gee, it was very telling which were my first cards and which are my recent ones.  Like anything that you practice at, I've improved over the years.  It's not different whether or not your are playing golf, sewing and quilting, baking or making cards---we all improve with practice.  

 Today Cynthia sent me two pictures of the Valentines I've sent her over the years. I thought it would be fun to show them to you.  Since there are several in each picture, it's hard to see them really good, but you can get the idea.  Here is one table with some of them.

 And here are others on another table.

                                      
Some of these I had truly forgotten and can hardly remember.  I sure appreciate the fact that my sisters enjoy my hobby like this!  Maybe I'll pull out some of my samples and use them myself to decorate my space! 

Thanks for stopping by!  Smiles, Laura

Happy birthday to a man!

Today's share is a card for a man's birthday.  We all know it's hard to find a "male theme" for a card. This paper just screamed "male" to me, so I decided to me a birthday card with it.   The card is Baja Breeze layered with Soft Suede.  Love that Soft Suede.

I used the Lovely As a Tree stamp set for the image.  I used a variety of colors to color the leaves on the tree--to match the striped designer paper.   That paper is cut to look like a striped ribbon.

And of course I used the Labels Collection dies to cut the shape for the tree and its backing.

 The sentiment came from the Sweet Cake stamp set in the Occasions mini. 

Thanks for stopping in today!! I'll have some Valentines to show you later---it IS almost time to put them in the mail.    Smiles, Laura