moremums2love (The {Stamps} of Life)

One of the special release sets from The {Stamps} of Life this month, coordinates with mums2stamp. . . .and it's called moremums2love.  (And i LOVE it!)

I used stamps from both of these sets on the cards I'd like to share today.  On this first card, I used a sponge dauber and applied Tangerine and Banana ink (both from Stephanie Barnards's Colorbox inks by Clearsnap.) I love the way the colors blended together so beautifully! This fabulous orange ribbon is from The Ribbon Retreat, in their vintage rayon ribbon, which is really similar to seam-binding. Easy to use, and looks great on cards!

On this card I created a happy little heart flower, just a little too late for Valentine's Day! 

 And on this last card, I used second-generation stamping (basically you stamp on scratch paper before stamping onto the card to create the lighter color) and added a FUN POP of color with the green ribbon and leafy stem.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please be sure to stop by the TSOL gallery to see LOTS of samples using these stamp sets, plus so much more!

Have a beautiful day!
xoxo

freshening up!

I decided it was time for a spring freshening up around here! It's been AGES since I updated my blog banner, and I have our GORGEOUS new family photos, taken by Steph Owens, (my new BFF for working her magic!) So - new profile photo, and a new blog banner to go with it!

I promise, I'll be back with some CUTE CUTE new cards tomorrow. . .with the special releases from The {Stamps} of Life, but for now I'll leave you with my smiling face, and new blog banner!

(Blog banner credits: Persnickety Prints freebies. . .they print BEAUTIFUL photos, in all kinds of sizes - and they specialize in 12x12 digital scrapbooking pages! I PUFFY HEART Persnickety Prints!) 

flowers two ways! (new TSOL release!)

Hello, hello! Happy MARCH! Spring has sprung and Florida is covered in pollen. I'm still waiting for our grass to get green again, but this weekend we are going to plant some flowers, some bell peppers, and maybe some oregano, to go along with the basil and rosemary plants we already have. 

March first brought the release of Mums2Stamp, from The {Stamps} of Life! This is seriously, one of my favorite stamp sets. (Hush, I know I say that pretty often!) And there might just be a coordinating stamp set coming soon! (Shhhh!)

I have two cards to share today, which use the same two-step stamps, but each has a VERY different look. 

I LOVE this first card.  When I offered it to Stephanie, as she was collecting samples, I struggled with whether or not to give it to her - because I LOVE it. The colors make me seriously happy!  The stamp set has  large and small solid flower stamps, and plus the outline for each to go on top.  So I stamped my flowers in pink and yellow, and then stamped the black outlines over, and added the little green leaves.

 And on this second card, I went for a WAY different look.  I paired the large flower and outline with some leaves and sentiment from the branches4flowers stamp set.  I stamped the solid flower once on scrap paper, and then onto the card stock, (some people call this second-generation stamping).  Then I used the SAME ink color and stamped the outline.  I masked the leaves, using a post-it note, to tuck them behind the flower.

All card stock shown is of course from Discount Cardstock.  Did you know they have sales EVERY week!? This week there is some GORGEOUS metallic purple cardstock on sale (which I don't have in my stash! GASP! And you know I'm not a fan of purple, but I must admit - this stuff looks beautiful!!!) Plus Lucious Lime Doublemates is on sale for 25-50% off!

Have a FABULOUS weekend!

(Thank You card goodies: cardstock - Discount Cardstock (Cyclamen Cascata Felt, Brilliant White, ) stamps - The {Stamps} of Life, ribbon - Close To My Heart, ink - Clearsnap, Close To My Heart, jewels - Want2Scrap)


(With Sympathy goodies: cardstock - Discount Cardstock (Kraft,  Berry Red DoubleMates, stamps - The {Stamps} of Life, ink - Close To My Heart) twine - May Arts)

color and pattern perfection!

So last week, I won this FABULOUS new stamp set from Paper Smooches, called Potporri.

It is a BLAST to play with!!!!! Here are two cards that I made, featuring fun backgrounds that I created with the Potporri stamps.  I paired them with some sentiments also by Kim Hughes, from some old Cornish Heritage Farms sets.

I LOVE the way the big flowers turned out, and the blingy centers (buttons from Close To My Heart) were the perfect finishing touch.

I found this color scheme in the latest Better Homes and Gardens magazine.  It was an article about paint colors - but I said "ACK! I must make a card with these!" ( I really did say it!!!!) And so. . .

I did!!! And I liked it so much, I made TWO! 

Thanks BUNCHES to Kim Hughes and Paper Smooches Stamps!!! Winning fabulous stuff is SO MUCH  FUN!

You Mean the World to Me

This week the Card Positioning Systems blog is being sponsored by Lil' Inker Designs.  Lil' Inkers sells clear stamps and dies, that are just SO stinking cute!!!  On this card, I used their Fringed Flower die.  It was really easy to work with, and I had fun making these VERY puffy flowers! (No way that THIS card is going through the mail, unless it's in a BOX,  that's for sure!)  I made my flower with card stock, but it works with felt too - I am going to try that next! (I haven't put felt through my die cutting machine yet. . .I'm a little scared!)

I paired these fringed flowers with a stamp from The Stamps of Life, and Echo Park patterned papers.  

 Be sure to stop by the CPS blog to see this week's sketch, and link up your designs, for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate from Lil' Inker Designs!!!

Happy!!!!!!

Happy to stop by and say HELLO to you today!

Happy for family portraits today with my cutie pies! 

(Thank you Steph Owens, for the magic you will make!)

Happy about TWINE from The Twinery, who so sweetly sponsored the CPS blog this past week. (Thank you thank you thank you, for feeding my obsession with twine!) 

I created this fun little Easter egg with a stamp from The {Stamps} of Life, LOTS of bling, and beautiful twine! I really sort of love it!  I was feeling sort of stumped on this week's CPS sketch, but I felt better about it when I just sort of shrunk it all down.  See?? :)

If you participated in the 5th anniversary celebration at CPS, be sure to stop by and check out the list of winners if you finished all 15 sketches! The winners are POSTED!!!!! Eeek! I hope your name is on the list! :)

TSOL special release time!

pray4peace is one of the new release sets from The {Stamps} of Life - it has a variety of peace signs, and some terrific sentiments.  On this first card, I used some kraft card stock, along with yellow crepe card stock (from Discount Cardstock) and I stamped and cut out the peace sign on a scrap - adhering it with tiny bits of foam tape. Clean and simple, simple, simple! 

 This flowery peace sign was stamped in yellow ink, and then i used my new fancy Touch Twin markers to color in the flowers a lighter shade of yellow.

 And this. . . .my favorite, I paired with stamps from guitars2play, along with the groovy peace signs! I colored the guitar with Touch Twins, and popped it up on foam tape.  So as you can see, this stamp set can have a groovy light hearted feel, or be paired with a thoughtful sentiment for a serviceperson far away from  home, or even a get well card.

My children both just went running up the stairs, and who knows WHAT madness they are getting into.  When I got my new Touch Twin markers, I gave my old Tombows to my seven-year-old. . . .but the two-year-old likes to sneak in and play with them.  It could be VERY dangerous, and my poor husband was trying to sleep, on this lovely Saturday morning.  SO, perhaps I better go run and find up what disasters are being left for me to clean up!!!!! Hugs to you!!! xoxo

Umbrella4You. . .and winner's last call!

Hello, hello!!!! First things first. . . I still haven't received a response from my winner of the Paper Crafts blog hop.  I'll draw a new winner tomorrow, if I haven't heard from Terri!

And now, onward to the BRAND NEW stamp set from The {Stamps} of Life.  It's called Umbrella4You, and it is ADORABLE.  I can honestly say I have liked all of the stamp sets I have worked with, from TSOL . . .but I get the sneak peek image of some sets, and I GASP.  This is one that I GASPED at! It is DARLING!  I couldn't WAIT to get it in my hands and play!  

 This first card was inspired by this print, called "Don't Rain On My Parade" that I found via my pal Angie, on Pinterest.  I saw it right around the time that I saw this stamp set, and I KNEW it was MEANT TO BE!

The umbrella also makes an awesome beach umbrella, along with the beachy fun sets, called island2visit, and summer4fun.

 The set also comes with a fun polka-dotted panel to insert into your umbrella if you'd like! (But it also looks awesome with patterned paper in that section, or just a solid color! I love to have OPTIONS! :)

 What could be sweeter than an Easter chick inside an umbrella!? {LOVE!} (Using the eggs4easter set!)

And there you have it! If you want to see MORE MORE MORE, check out the TSOL gallery, filled with cuteness from all of the TSOL designers!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a terrific Wednesday! xoxo

and the winner is. . . .

Thank you once again SO MUCH for stopping by for Paper Crafts Stamp It! 3 Ways blog hop this past weekend.  It was such fun! I loved having so many visitors! And now. . . .for the random winner of the Stamp It! 3 Ways issue:

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: 

Result:

21

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

The winner is:

Terri E. said...

How much fun! Great job.

JANUARY 27, 2012 9:07 AM

Hooray Terri! I just sent you an email, but if you didn't get it, then email me your contact info and I will pass it along to Paper Crafts! :) 

Paper Crafts magazine presents: Stamp It! 3 Ways Blog Hop

Welcome to another fabulous Paper Crafts magazine blog hop!!!! We are celebrating the release of the special issue, Stamp It! 3 Ways.

In this magazine, groups of designers were given a particular stamp set, and each created different projects to show the versatility of the stamps.  It was a lot of fun to participate in this creative challenge, and it was even MORE fun to find out that one of my cards (the chalkboard) would be on the COVER! Two covers within a month.  It's insanity I tell you!!! (Thrilling insanity! ;) 

I have two other cards within the magazine, and this is a card I created using one of the stamp sets I was assigned to. (you can see it below)

 

Please hop around and visit all of these fabulous chicks, and check out their great inspiration, using stamps from this issue.  We each have a copy of the magazine to give away, so be sure to leave a comment as you travel around! (Comments must be posted by Sunday January 29th, at midnight MST)

·         Jaclyn Miller

·         Julie Masse

·         Laura Williams (that's me!)

·         Heidi Van Laar

·         Emily Leiphart

·         Mariana Grigsby

·         Julia Stainton

·         Sarah Moerman

·         Karen Baker

·         Laura O’Donnell

·         Kelley Eubanks

·         Kimberly Crawford

And then be sure to head to the Paper Crafts Connection and leave a comment, for a chance to win this HUGE prize - stamps from the issue! WOWZERS! That is going to be one heck of a package to open up!

Thank you SO much for stopping by.  Hopping with Paper Crafts is such a privilege for me, and I totally enjoy (too much) reading each of your comments! I'll be trying to get around to YOUR blogs as well this week, to say HELLO!

xoxo