got purple?

This week's CPS sketch is sponsored by Tami Grandi, an a*muse consultant.  The patterned paper, cardstock, bling, and stamped image are all from a*muse.  I think I've made it fairly clear how I feel about purple.  Maybe it's because it was my elementary, middle school, AND my high school's color and I just got SICK of seeing PURPLE PURPLE PURPLE, but it just doesn't work for me. But by golly, this is the second purple project in a row that I have been HAPPY with! Hooray!

Today, after the hubby preaches two sermons at church, we are driving, driving, driving up to North Carolina to visit with my parents for the week.  I am in crunch mode, trying to get everything done, and get the kids and I out the door to church on time, plus packed and ready to head out, so we can GO when Pastor Daddy is finished!

I don't know if I'll get a post up this week while we're away or not.  I've given up on scheduling some posts before we leave! It ain't happenin' people!

Don't forget to stop by Sweet Stamp Shop's Facebook page. . .LIKE them, and then tell them that Laura Williams sent you! Thank you OODLES to those who have done it already! I would LOVE to win those stamps being given away to the person who refers the most people! PLUS it earns a guest designer spot!!! And really, I wouldn't send you over there if the stamps weren't CUTE CUTE CUTE! You'll love them - I promise!

You guys are the BEST! Have a great week! I'll pop in when I can!
xoxoxo

(please) and thanks thanks thanks thanks!

First the PLEASE. . . .are you on Facebook?  Go and check out the brand new Sweet Stamp Shop on Facebook, and LIKE them.  And leave a comment that I sent you (Laura Williams)! They are giving away ALL their new stamps to the person who sends the most visitors.  And besides the fact, that I would LOVE to win their cute stamps, I really DO want you to go check them out - because they are ADORABLE! Sweet Stamp Shop is BRAND NEW - grand opening August 5th.  Go to their blog to see all the sweet sweet stamps they will be releasing! (The gnomes, and the scooter are my faves so far!)

Okay, on to the THANKS THANKS THANKS!  I created this card for last week's CPS sketch, #226.  And somehow I'm pretty sure I never posted it here! Silly me!  I had FUN with this card.  All of the product is from Close To My Heart, and you can find all the links and the full scoop over here on my mom's CTMH blog. 

Alright. . .have you forgotten already? SWEET STAMP SHOP on Facebook.  LIKE them.  (you'll be glad you did!) And tell them Laura Williams sent you!  (mwaaaahh! i love you to pieces!)
xoxox

You Rock

This week's CPS sketch is sponsored by Want2Scrap.  They have fabulous BLING, in an array of colors and sizes.  They also have their own Nestabling. . .bling that fits the sizes of the Nestability dies.  I do not own a diecut machine, nor do I ever plan to.  I'm just not a die-cuttin' girl.  Too much effort for me! But the Nestabling works just as well without a diecut.  On this card, I used a Silver Square Nestabling.  Want2Scrap also has about a billion colors and sizes of individual blingy delights, aside from the Nestabling.  (I used some of the tiny ones in the corner of this card!)

I paired the Nestabling with Tami Mayberry's Live Life Loud stamps, from Gina K Designs, and dotted swiss cardstock from Discount Cardstock.

In a few days we are headed up to the mountains for a few days to creek-stomp, explore, dig in the dirt, pick up rocks and leaves, build a fort, pick wild blackberries, and relax with my parents.  Ahhhhh! I can hardly wait!  And then, I'll blink my eyes, and it will be AUGUST, and almost time to start gearing up for back to school. (ugh!)

But we won't think about that yet. . . . I need a few more lazy days of summer!
Enjoy yours! It's almost the weekend. . .(well sort of!)
xoxo

sun, sand, and palm trees

Ahhh, summer time! The July stamps from The {Stamps} of Life are perfect for summer time cards, and scrapbook layouts!  Palm trees, a relaxing hammock, sand, shells. .. . AHHH, life IS good!

Here are a few samples I created with the stamps! You can find the stamp set, Island2Visit, along with all the other TSOL stamp sets, here!

And now that I'm in the mood, we are heading to the beach this morning! 

Have a TERRIFIC week!

card goodies: all stamps from TSOL Island2Visit set, cardstock - Discount Cardstock, twine - The Twinery, ink - Close To My Heart

Up and Down . . crossword style!

Hey there chickies! How much FUN was the DCS/The Twinery blog hop last week!? Thank you SO much for all of your sweet comments.  I had THE best time reading them all!! I am trying to swing by some of YOUR blogs to say hello too!

Today I'd like to share two of my cards using one of the new releases at The {Stamps} of Life.  It's called standup4sentiments, and as you can see. . .the sentiments are standing up! Fun, huh!? I immediately thought of this October Afternoon patterned paper with the crossword print on it! PERFECTION!

On this second card, I used TWO of the new sets.  The sentiment is another from standup4sentiments, but I also used type4backgrounds.  It's an alphabet background stamp, and after I stamped it, I punched out some circles to put behind my buttons.  (I also used the dotted circle from the very FIRST TSOL stamp set, called Back2Basics.)  You can find all of the sets on the PRODUCTS page.

I must say, I am rather proud of this second card, mainly because I used PURPLE.  And I HATE purple.  But I also HATE wasting paper.  I had the cardstock, plus some unloved, unused purple buttons, and I was determined to make it work! And I don't even hate the way it turned out.  Miraculous!

Thanks so much for coming by today, especially if you are new to my blog!  I didn't update this week, because I was trying to keep the blog hop post at the top, but I will be back in a few days with some more NEW CARDS!!!

Happy Thursday!
xoxo

twine and cardstock and prizes - OH MY!

The Twinery and DiscountCardstock.com Design Teams are joining up today for a Summer Party themed blog hop!

As you hop from blog to blog make sure and comment on every post because there will be two winners chosen randomly along the hop. If you get lost anywhere along the hop (or if someone is having a blog glitch!) a complete list of participants will be posted on The Twinery and DiscountCardStock.com blogs. The hop will end on 7/13/2011 and winners will be posted on The Twinery and DiscountCardStock.com blogs the following day.

The prizes!

Colorful Bunch Sampler Pack ($20 retail value!) from the Twinery (shown)

 A paper sampler pack (a $20 retail value!)from DiscountCardstock.com

The Twinery

Our twine is made from 100% cotton, it's eco-friendly and made in the USA. Whether you're gift wrapping, crafting or tying up baked goods to give to a friend, our baker's twine adds a fresh, yet nostalgic look to any project at hand! Our baker's twine comes in 11 delicious colors and is uniquely twisted against a bright white hue, creating an eye-popping burst of color and a creative embellishment! Our twine has lots of color which lends to a fun, candy-striped look.

DiscountCardStock.com

 DiscountCardstock.com was launched in 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Our mission is to provide great quality cardstock and specialty papers at discount pricing. We offer 100% acid and lignin free, archival quality uncoated cardstocks, as well as metallic, vellum, hand-made specialty papers, envelopes, scored cards and high qualify art paper and cards that are specially coated and developed for use by professional artists and card makers using ink jet printers.

Okay, are you still with me? My project. . . .
I created a gift bag and matching card, full of summer colors and fun!  This project was quick and simple, and lots of fun to make.  I was inspired by the oh-so-popular trend of color blocking.  Have you heard of it? Go do a Google image search, or Pinterest search for it, and you'll immediately recognize it! It's hot in fashion, home decor, and of course - PAPER CRAFTING!

To create this project, whether you do it on a bag, a card, or something else, just wrap cardstock blocks (in varying sizes) with twine, and adhere to a clean white background.  (I love clean white backgrounds!)  I added some cute little tags, stamped with Unity Stamps in coordinating colors, and a big white bow on my gift bag. (This bag was just a plain white bag from Target, but think about how you can recycle a shopping bag, or solid colored packaging you have laying around!)

Thanks so VERY much for stopping by today! I hope you'll come back soon! Happy blog hopping!

The Twinery  http://www.thetwineryblog.com/

Jeanne Streiff http://inkypaws.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/?p=14833

Emily Leiphart   http://www.leiphartonart.blogspot.com/

Trudy Sjolander http://truesgiftsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/
Tifany DeGough   http://www.inkblotsbytrd.blogspot.com/

Heidi Blankenship http://embellished-dreams.blogspot.com/

Grace Hester   http://www.gracehester.typepad.com/

Debbie Seyer http://www.debbieseyer.com/

Monika Wright   http://iloveitallwithmonikawright.blogspot.com/

Laura Williams http://www.lauralooloo.blogspot.com/  (THAT'S ME!!!) 

Angelica Suarez   http://handmadebyangelica.com/

Ivona Foster   http://blog.sugarsticksparties.com/

Angie Hagist-Discount Cardstock Blog http://www.discountcardstock.com/blog/

the key to my heart

Discount Cardstock, October Afternoon, and Unity Stamp Company - three of my favorite things! Oh - and polka-dots.  FOUR of my favorite things!

The big boy was up with Daddy until ELEVEN o'clock last night, so I am pleased to report that he is still asleep, at 8:15am.  But as soon as he wakes up, we are off to the grocery store after this fun busy beachy weekend.  I hope your 4th was safe and happy, and filled with family, fun, and food!

(card goodies: Kraft, Coco, and mulberry - Discount Cardstock, patterned paper - October Afternoon, stamps - Unity Stamp Co)

bye bye june!

My poor Apron Strings cards from June never got posted! ACK! So here are a few of them, for ya, along with an image of all the goodies in the kit! 

Be sure to check out the June and the July kits at Apron Strings.  I always make a TON of cards from each kit.  There are tons of embellishments, and lots of paper and cardstock!  And when you get the kit, you get instructions and measurements for all of the cards shown! A quick and easy way to knock out 

some cards!

Happy 4th of July weekend! Stay safe, and have a GREAT time!