Flowers of sorrow...

Hello out there, if I have any blog readers left!  I'm so sorry to be away so long.  It's been a very busy summer for me.  I haven't had alot of time to stamp, but when I have, then I didn't have time to post to you the cards I made.  I just don't know where the last month has gone.  For one thing, I have been working on a new banner for my church.  I just have to share it here. The banner was created for our Discovering Spirit Gifts month, and the theme I put on it was, "Many Gifts, One Spirit."  The finished size is 4' x 6'.  I saw this technique for fusing the pieces onto the background fabric.  I saw in a quilt book the idea of creating "brick" for a quilt, so I combined these two to fuse "brick" shapes onto the backing to create a sky effect.  Then I drew and cut the tree from fabric and fused it on.  I created an "ironing board" on two tables with padding it with fabric, but let me tell you, leaning over to adhere all these blocks isn't easy on the old back.

There is a little Stampin' Up! on this banner, too, because I used the Autumn Accents Bigz Die to cut all the leaves.  I used 22 different fabrics for the leaves, every one different to represent the 22 different spirit gifts.  I really cranked out the leaves. I didn't count them but there are A LOT of them on this tree.

 Coming up with the fabric for the letters and size for the letters was tricky.  I kept printing out letters to decide which size would be best viewed from the back of the sanctuary.  Here is the size I finally decided on and they, too, were fused to the "bricks."

 I'd say I have well over 40 hours in this banner (but didn't count, so who knows), but here it is finally hung in the front of our sanctuary!  I have gotten many favorable comments on it and am pleased myself with how it turned out.  I'm sure our church will use it for many years to come. It was a gift of love!

So that sort of explains where some of my summer have gone.  I also went to see sister Becky at Isle of Palms, SC for a week.  What a fun time we had there.  So now I'm back, but won't promise to post daily.  My friend Regina said of her blog that it's simple to just post one message a day. Well, believe me, it takes me a bit of time to write up a post, so I have a hard time doing it daily.  I do have another trip planned with my Dad and all 3 sisters in September so I KNOW I'll be away that week.  But for today, I'm here and wanted to share a sample with you.

This sample uses the flower from Flower Shop.  They are stamped onto white CS and colored with a bit of Crumb Cake and my aqua painter.  I punched them out using the Pansy Punch. The centers are stamped and punched separately using the colored with the Pear Pizzazz reinker and the aqua painter.

I used the Thoughts and Prayers set for the sentiment.  This one will be a nice sympathy card for the bereaved.

So, that's my card for today.  I hope to be back soon.  I recently bought a new computer and have had some trouble with it, so today I'm working from the old one.  Believe me, one doesn't want to change to a new computer too often.  Trying to get all the pictures and files moved over is a headache.  Another reason I was absent so long!  Well, I hope to see you again soon!!  

If you are reading this, it means you have "hung in" with me and I sure appreciate you!!

See you soon.  Smiles, Laura

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