One more share today....

I wanted to share one more sample today.  This one was inspired by a card I saw on one of the groups I'm a part of.  I love the little butterflies from the Beautiful Butterfly embosslit.  That one has been so popular!  I needed a birthday card to send to someone, and this will be it.  The card is Dusty Durange with Soft Suede on it.  I don't know if you can see them or not, but I used my Scor Pal to make little lines down the card at 1" invervals.  And I scored around the box with the butterflies. 

Thanks for stopping in today!  Smiles, Laura

Vintage Vogue share....

Look at this delightful card my friend Regina Andari sent to me (right).  I just loved it--the colors, the layout, and the use of the Vintage Vogue stamp set.  I wanted to make one like it--but alittle different.  Here in purple is my version.  We both used the Matchbox die for our base of our tag (wording), the Ovals die for our ovals, the Scalloped Square die for the card itself, and  the Scallop Trim Border punch from the Sale-a-bration mini.  Regina used the Bride Speciality paper for her white in the oval and on the tag.  I didn't have any on hand, so I used regular white CS and used my crimper to give it that two-tone effect.  I also had purchased the Punch Pack (3 punches) as a pre-order from the Summer Mini.I decided I'd like little flowers around my oval, rather than the extra flower Regina added.  The green center of the Vintage Vogue flower is also one of the punches from the Punch pack.  It will be fun to get into that Summer Mini and start using alot of the new products.

I like both of these samples, don't you?  It just shows you that a few changes can make a different card, but very similar.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Smiles, Laura

We're home from the beach...

We have a great time at Myrtle Beach, SC,  last weekend and this week!  The weather was heavenly and we made the most of it.  No, not one of us got blistered.  You would not believe the pollen.  I've never seen the coastline yellow with pollen.  I should have snapped a photo of it to show you.  From shore out about 50 yards was pure yellow, because the wind was blowing the pollen that lay on the water back to shore.  It was an amazing look and even the local news channels were reporting on it!

I haven't had a minute to stamp but here is one sample we are making at our April classes that I want to share with you.

This one uses ALOT of punches to make those cute little purses.  Won't this be a neat card to send to a mother (your mother-in-law, your  daughter-in-law who is mother to your grandchildren, perhaps?) for Mothers Day!  I know anyone would love to get it. 

Editorial note added later:  I should have added that this card is basically CASE'd from my friend Regina Andari.  I changed the colors and wording, but she showed me how to make the purses.  Thanks Regina.

I am working on our tax return  the rest of this week, but when I finish, I'll get back to stamping and will have more to share.  I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!  More later.  Thanks for stopping by!!
Smiles, Laura

Birthday stars....

Hi, all!! Hope you had a wonderful Palm Sunday weekend!  I made a trip to the SC coast to be with my 3 sisters and it was a wonderful sisters weekend!  We shopped, talked, played cards, and generally enjoyed each other's company. 

I thougth I'd share a card I made for my son's birthday.  He turned 41 on Sunday, March 28.  This one was inspired by a card I saw somewhere online.  

I was pleased with how it turned out and I think he liked it.  Here is the inside.

 I hope you have a good week. I'm heading to the beach for a trip with my husband and grandchildren (the SC coast again, different part.) so I'll post when I return.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Smiles, Laura

In a different color....

Here is the card layout I showed you the other day in different colors. We made these in our class this week and the ladies loved this layout. It is easier than it looks. I love using stripes for the top and bottom of this card. I think it makes a real impact when someone opens the envelope and finds this card.

Here is another card we are making in class this week. It uses the new stamp set Garden from the Heart in the Occasions Mini Catalog. The designer paper used is also from that mini, the Sweet Pea Paper Stack. Love those patterns in that pack!!The little eyelet lace border around the hat picture is made using the eyelet border punch on a 3/4" strip. Then run it through the crimper to kind of "pleat" it. Then using your hands to pleat it up some more and glue it to the back of the oval. I put pop-ups behind the oval to hold up the center.

Did you notice the hat band. I stamped the hat on some dotted designer paper and cut out the band only and glued it to the hat I had stamped on the oval. Cute, huh?

Here is another card I've made recently. I wanted some cards to send to visitors at our church, welcoming them. This one uses a retired So Saffron ribbon and a retired stamp saying Happy Hellos, but otherwise currently supplies. The stamp set used is Circle Circus and I stamped the various circles in different colors. The card is simple and easy to do, but still is a personally-made card to send to new friends.Thanks for stopping by today. I'll have more to share later. For now, I need to go stamp!!

Smiles, Laura

"Where have you been?"

I know you are asking, where have I been (at least I hope are missed me). I have just been wrapped up in volunteer work for my church and haven't had time to stamp nor post. And I am still working on my stamp room, converting it from a sewing room to a stamp room, and it is a major job! I will have to finish it after tax time, 4/15!!

I wanted to share a card I've made with you. I saw this layout on a couple of blogs and it was called a variation of the tri-fold on one blog and a Standing Display on another blog. I decided it isn't a tri-fold, but rather a quad-fold, so that's what I am calling it--either that or a standing display. Here is the card closed--the front, if you will. But open it and it is really good. I used the Beautiful Wings Embosslit for the butterflies.Here it is opened up and "on display"! Neat, huh! This will be a fun layout to play with. The possibilities for decorating it are endless. The stamp set used inside is the Best Wishes and More set. It looks complicated and quite impressive when you see it opened up. But it really is fairly easy to make. I have included a drawing of how you have to score it. Score 5.5” x 12” CS from one long side to the other at 2”, 4”, 8” and 10”
Score both long edges 1” deep into the card at 1”, 5”, 7” and 11”
Cut down both long sides in 1” deep from 1” to 5” and from 7” to 11”.

On my drawing above I have given the dimensions for my designer paper I added, too, but you don't really have to add that unless you want.

Here's another card I wanted to show you. I had to do challenge swap using this particular fold (I've shown you this before on my blog) so I decided to add this little bunny to send to my swap partner.

I got this little bunny design from Stephanie Leider and changed his colors a bit to use on this card. I think he is so cute! I love using punches. If you need to know how the fold is done, I can send you the directions. The designer paper is from the Welcome Neighbor DSP Pack in the SAB catalog. I also used the Scallop Trim Border punch you can also earn during SAB. Love that punch!!

I have more to share, but that's for another day!! I hope you have a good day. Thanks for stopping by. Smiles, Laura

I refuse to say "Round 5"!!

OK, you all know we have had more snow here in the South this year than any time in recent memory! So we got it again--9" this time. But let me tell you--it is beautiful!! It fell all day yesterday with big flakes and they piled up quickly! It looked like whipped frosting. It was fun to watch it fall. I decided to take Gabby for a walk down to the mailbox. Look at the snow on our mailbox!! It was a fun walk but Gabby gave me my laugh for the day. I've told you she is loving this snow. Well, it is about a 1/2 mile walk--down and back. She was hopping behind me in my tracks when we got back. The steepest part of the walk is coming back up "house hill" so she was not opposed to stopping a couple of times to rest with me. Look at her snowballs on her legs! I figured she was probably carrying about half again her weight in snow. It's hard to see in the picture with her IN the snow, but look at her on the carport! Isn't she funny!

And her face looking at me says, "Mom, DO NOT laugh at me. Get these things OFF!!"

Thanks for humoring me and looking at these funny pictures of Gabby. Your reward is a couple of samples I made recently. I have been cleaning out my stamping room, moving around furniture and sorting through things, trying to make the work area more efficient. So I haven't had a chance to stamp this week. But here are two samples I made earlier.

Both samples use the Asian Artistry stamp set. I just love this set and wish it wasn't a hostess set, so we could count on it being in the next catalog! I used the Elegant Eggplant and Lovely Lilic and Basic Black on this one. And the Modern Label punch.
For this one, I used Sofe Suede and Bashful Blue cardstock. I used the Scallop Edge, Scallop oval and Large oval punches. I added the Soft Suede Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon.

This "THANKS" card is your thank you for visiting my blog today. Come back soon. Smiles, Laura