Canadian Goose.....

Today's card uses the new stamp set, Wetlands.  This set is by the same artist who drew the Hostess set, Simply Sketched, and I love his/her work!!  I hope Stampin' Up! will use this artist more!  

I wanted a card that would be appropriate for a man.  I used the Soft Suede card stock for it, and accented it with Crushed Curry card stock.  I stamped the goose and the grasses from the set on a white piece using the Soft Suede.  I used Soft Sky ink brushed on with a sponge for the sky, some Crumb Cake for the earth, some Crushed Curry on the grasses and a dab of Cajun Craze in the sky.  

For the sentiment, I used the birthday greeting that was in the Wetlands set. I punched it out using the large oval punch and mounted that onto a curry piece cut using one of the dies in the Chalk Talk die collection.  I put a piece of rolled-up linen thread between the two to set it off.

I think this would be appropriate for any man's birthday, don't you?  

Thanks for stopping in.  See you again soon.
Smiles, Laura

Bragging on Jessica..

Sorry, but I hope you will indulge me today.  Jessica finally told me recently that she made all A's for the year in school.  Funny that she and Dillon both hate to brag on their accomplishments and I have to ask how their grades are, knowing they both do well.  Well, I remember when I was in the 6th grade, I also made all A's that year, so I was very happy Jessica did, too. Next month when she starts school, she will be starting in junior high. 

I wanted to congratulate Jessica and send her a little gift.  I decided to send her money for a pedicure, since she loves getting those.  Here is her card I made her to send it in.

I did not have a pattern for the sunglasses, so I just freehand cut them.  I first cut the glasses from basic grey card stock and then cut them again from designer paper.  But I did cut out the centers of the designer paper, so when I glued it to the grey card stock, it looks like glasses.

I had to add a flower for alittle pizzazz.  And I used a retired stamp set for the sentiment. 

Here is a close-up.

Jessica loved the card and said, "money is always useful."  Ha!  I wonder if she'll get that pedicure or something else with it.  Hummm.....

Anyway, I'm totally proud of her for making such great grades!!  Makes me wonder if Dillon made all A's, too. He'd never tell.... Ha!

Thanks for stopping in.  Smiles, Laura

Hello Hexagons.....

Here is a card we are making in class this month.  The card is Coastal Cabana.  I ran it through the Honeycomb EF to get that pattern on it.  

Using the Six Sided Sampler set, I stamped three of the stamps in the set--two using Coastal Cabana ink, one using a different stamp using Coastal Cabana, and two using another stamp in the set using Crisp Cantaloupe.  I glued these onto the front of the card, setting alittle to the left.  I cut around the 5 of them, so the inside of the card would show a bit.  Then I added a strip of designer paper inside the card, so it shows from the front.  

The sentiment is also in the Six-Sided Sampler set.  I cut it in a banner shape and added it to the middle hexagon.   Love this one!! I can think of MANY color combinations to use on this one!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Smiles, Laura

A Card for Dillon....

My grandson Dillon is going on a mission trip to NYC next week.  This will be his second time to go and I am not sure who is blessed more--the youth his team witnesses to, or Dillon and his team.  He enjoyed so very much last year sharing the Good News and winning souls to Christ.  Anyway, I'm so happy his is getting to go again.  I wanted to send him a card, telling him I'll be praying for him while he's there and also sending him alittle spending money to take with him.  So here is his card I made.

This card uses the Triple Stamping technique and I'm sure alot of you are very familiar with the technique.  It's not new.  But this does happen to be the first card I've made using this technique!

The card itself is the usual, 5.5"x 8.5", scored at 4.25" and folded in half.  (You would also make it 4.25" x 11" and fold it in half at 5.5" too.  Your choice. 

The three whitee pieces are cut 4" x 5.25", 4.25" x 3", and 3.50" x 2.25".  The suede pieces backing the two smaller white sizes are cut 4.50" x 3.25" and 3.50" x 2.25".

To stamp the white pieces, simply put a small dot of adhesive tape (removable if you have it) in the middle of each white pc. of card stock and lay the next smaller one on top, until you have the 3 of them stacked.  Then stamp whatever you want on the three, changing colors, adding some background "busy-ness" etc.  I used the Need for Speed stamp set that is retired because I knew Dillon would like the car and 4-wheeler.

Then pull the three apart, add their respective backings and glue them together again.  On this card I did not use dimensionals between them, but you an use dimensionals if you wish.

I added the button and this sentiment "You're one of my nicest thoughts" to Dillon's card.  He is one of my nicest thoughts!!

Here is another card I made.   This one is made with Marina Mist cardstock.  I used the By the Tide set on this card.

There are SO MANY sets you can use on the Triple stamping technique.  Just let your imagination flow.....

I hope you like these two cards!  Go try making your own!  And visit my blog again soon!!
Smiles, Laura

Mosaic Just For You....

Today I wanted to share a card we made in my June classes.  I am starting to really LOVE this mosaic stamp set and punch!  What alot of options one has with it.

For this card, I used the new Pistachio cardstock and layered that with vanilla.  I had run the vanilla through the Modern Mosaic embossing folder.  The class debated which side we wanted to use--with the mosaic depressed or raised.  I decided on the depressed side.

I used the Mosaic Madness set stamped in one of three colors--Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding and Baked Brown Sugar.  The sentiment is from the Label Love set and is punched using the Artisan Label punch.  

One nice thing about this card is that it could be used for any occasion.  I plan to be making more of these in other colors!!

Thanks for visiting today!! Smiles, Laura

Happy 93rd Birthday, Dad!!

I think I told you earlier that my Dad's birthday is in July and that's he's patriotic.  I wanted to use stars for his card this year, but not the usual red, white, and blue colors.  So I chose Navy, Elegant Eggplant and Island Indigo--and of course white and Silver Shimmer paper.  Those first 3 seemed like masculine colors to me.  

The card itself isn't a fancy one.  Just some stars punch out using our retired star punches.  The sentiment is from our Make a Wish set.  A big-numbered birthday like 93 IS time for a celebration!!  My sisters and I and our husbands are taking Dad out for lunch to celebrate.

Here is a close up of the stars.  The silver ones are popped up!

I put more stars inside and included the "Make a Wish" sentiment.  

I'm hoping Dad is around to celebrate his 100th birthday with us!!!  For now, each one he has is a special one for us all to celebrate!!  Happy Birthday, Dad!!!!  I sure do love you!!

Smiles, Laura

OK, How about this? Is it completed now?

I posted this card earlier and asked you if it was finished, completed.  

Thanks to those of you who replied to me or commented here.  You liked it "as is."  But I still thought it needed something for a Christmas card.  So I decided to add some hearts punched with the Build an Owl punch from the Red Glimmer cardstock.  Here it is with just 3 hearts.  What do you think now?

 Here's a close-up.

 I think it looks better with just these few hearts!  I hope you still like it.  Let me know what you think!!
Smiles, Laura

Is it done yet? finished? completed?

We kid our grandchildren when they say, "I'm done."  We tell them only turkeys and hams get done; people get finished.  Then it occurred to me that sometimes "completed" might be a better word, as in a design.  I could not tell if this card was completed yet.  What does it need?  To truly be a Christmas card, I feel like it might need 1) something red like "berries" on one tree; or 2) perhaps a silver glimmer star on top of the middle tree; or 3) perhaps use a brighter green for the white front's backing (I used Pistachio Pudding).   So I'm trying to decide if this card is done, finished, completed!

I'll have to ponder it.  And I'd welcome your input....You MAY see this one again before the holiday season.....with more "stuff" on it.       

To be continued.....

Smiles, Laura

Happy Fourth of July to everyone !!!! Happy Birthday, America!!!

I promised the other day I'd share with you the card I made for my three sisters, to commemorate our Nation's birthday.  I love this particular holiday!!!  We always go to see the local fireworks and cook out and generally have a wonderful time.  

This card is red, layered with navy and then Crumb Cake.  I ran the crumb cake through the Big Shot using the Stripes embossing folder.  I cut out a blue oval and the red border oval using the Ovals Collection framelits.  

Uncle Sam is made using the 1-3/4" circle punch, the 1-3/4" Scallop Punch and the Word Window punch for the hat's brim.  I cut a 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" square from the Silver Glimmer Paper, and added 3 stripes using Red Glimmer Paper.  The 3 stars are also punched from the glimmer paper.

The sentiment on this one is from the Make a Wish set.  I cut the candles off mine because I knew I'd use it more without all those candles.  I put it using a die from the new Chalk Talk set.

So what do you think?  Isn't this the best of the 3 July 4th cards I made?  I hope my sisters like it!!  And HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA.  May you all have a wonderful celebration today!!
Smiles, Laura

Happy July 4th Card for Dad....

I will share with you tomorrow the cards I made for my 3 sisters for July 4th, but today I wanted to show you one I made for my Dad.  His birthday is in July and he usually selected red, white and blue for colors to celebrate.  I didn't use those colors this year (you'll see that card on another entry) but I did decide to make him a card using the Red, White, and Blue.  My dad is SOOOO patriotic in a quiet way.  He doesn't talk about it, but he is a decorated veteran of World War II and a very special man.  

I used Stampin' Up!'s new Designer Series Paper Stacks in the Brights collection for the background.  The card itself is Night of Navy.  

I used the new Simply Stars stamp set for the stars.  The sentiments are from the Make a Wish set and the Memorable Moments set.  And I punched both size stars using the two SU retired Star punches.  Boy, I wish those two were still current so I could use them in class.

 Here is a close up of the stars, so you can see that I used some Silver Glimmer paper for some of the stars.

I think Dad's going to like this one!!  An early Happy July 4th to all of you!!
Smiles, Laura

Holiday coming up....

Yep, July 4th is round around the corner and I've been making July 4 holiday cards.  I always like to send my sisters each a card for every holiday.  I hope they like getting them as much as I like making the cards.  Anyway, today I am sharing two cards I made that were NOT selected to go to "the sisters."  Yes, both are perfectly nice cards, but still, they didn't make the cut!

This first one is red card stock, layered with Marina Mist .  I used the stars from the new Simply Stars stamp set by Stampin' Up!  The word "Freedom" comes from Words of Courage.  Love that set!!

So while this one was all right, I tried again.  Here is the second one:

For this one, I used the Stripes embossing folder, brayered red inside it, and laid in a piece of white cardstock.  Messy, but it gave me stripes.  I used the new Ovals Collection framelits to cut out the oval and also to make the red border for it.  The stars again are from the Simply Stars set.  And the sentiment on this one is from the Make a Wish set.

This one was closer to what I wanted but was not quite it.  Come back on July 4th to see the one I made for my sisters!!

Smiles, Laura