Update on My Husband

I would like to thank all of you for your prayers and support through the past few months. It is with a heavy heart that I tell you Jim lost his battle with cancer this afternoon. He had such a difficult time over the past 6 months and his body just gave up. But, I have comfort in knowing that he is in a much better place and no longer having to endure the pain and diarrhea and the constant frustration of not feeling well.

We had so many things that we still wanted to do together and I miss him so much already. But, I am taking some much needed time with our son and will be back to stamping in the near future. Jim always enjoyed the cards and projects I make and I know he would want that to continue.

Thanks again for all of your prayers. I know they were answered because now he is at peace.

God Bless you all and thank you for being part of my life. 'Til next time..........................

Laurie

Simply Sent - Create and Keep

When I saw the new Simply Sent Kit in the Occasions Mini Catalog, I knew I had to get one just to see what it was like. Well, needless to say, I want more of them! This is the coolest little kit ever!! Inside the package, you will find everything you need to make 10 greeting cards, the envelopes to mail them in, as well as a box (complete with dividers) to store them in until you need them!! You don't even have to stamp anything - the die cuts that are included allow you to decorate your cards for all sorts of occasions. All that and they are cute, too :)

In the kit, you get the pre-cut and scored pieces to assemble this box:



I used Sticky Strip to put mine together - that or Tombo multi-pupose glue is recommended. I hate "drying time" so I chose the quicker method :) I was too anxious to see how cute it was! You also receive four divider cards and on the die cut sheet, there are little stickers to put on the tabs. You can choose the ones with titles printed (like I did) or you can use the blank ones for you own occasions:



The color combination is awesome - Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Early Espresso. The envelopes are Pear Pizzazz and have a cute little label to add a name or address to on the back and an adorable tab closure:



I know, I know - where are the cards?????? Well, here are the first five. You get 2 each of the five different colors and all of the die cuts coordinate. The fun is in putting them together - no two sets ever have to be the same :) I love these peel-and-stick little beauties:



There is such a diverse collection of sentiments - "Thinking of You", "Thanks", "Happy Birthday", "Hi", "Congrats", and "For You". I love that you have such great choices - something for all occasions:



The complete list of supplies:

Accessories: Simply Sent Kit - Create and Keep, Sticky Strip

How simple is that supply list!? I love it!!! The best part is that you can get all 10 cards with envelopes and the box with dividers for under $15 (plus shipping and tax). Yes, you heard correctly - it is only $14.95!! How great is that???

This would make a great gift for someone who enjoys sending cards to friends and family. And I think it would make a fantastic class (for all you demonstrators out there)! I know I certainly intend to have one. This goes together so quickly and is super easy!! I have friends who suffer with arthritis and sometimes it is just too painful to stamp. With this kit, they could still make beautiful hand-made cards with ease. And, it is great for kids, too, because you don't have to worry about "inky fingers" touching everything..lol!!

The possibilities are endless with this little kit. I can't wait to get some more of them. I think it would be fun to "step up" the cards by adding some ribbon, buttons, and brads. Hopefully this will not be the only kit we see like this - I intend to ask for more :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I am so happy to be back. I don't get to stamp everyday, but I do it every chance I get and hope to share again very soon. I am loving all of the new things and can't wait to show you more. 'Til next time..............................

Happy Stamping,

Laurie

Remember to get your mammogram!

Non-Traditional Valentine Love

I absolutely love the color combination in the Twitterpated Designer Series Paper in the new Occasions Mini Catalog! And even though, I love it, it's still fun to change it up a bit :) So, that's what I decided to do for my first Valentine's Day card. I chose the page that has all of the pretty little flowers all over it and then laid out the other colors. But, I just happened to have a scrap of Pink Pirouette on my stamping table and laid it against the Island Indigo....you guessed it - LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!!! I will be putting these two together alot from now on :)

Anyway, I had just gotten Valentine Love in the order my hubby got me for Christmas so I decided to try a little "non-traditional" Valentine's Day Card. This is how it turned out:

I colored the inside portion of the heart image (it has a vine around it on the stamp) with my Blushing Bride Marker and stamped it. Then I used the sentiment and stamped over the heart with Riding Hood Red ink. I punched it out with the Full Heart Punch and then layered it onto a piece of Island Indigo cut with the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit. I attached it with a dimensional to make it "pop." And, I love how it just gives a very small scalloped border around the punched heart:

The complete list of supplies:

Stamp Set: Valentine Love

Cardstock: Island Indigo, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Twitterpated Designer Series Paper

Ink: Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Big Shot, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Blushing Bride Marker, Stampin' Dimensionals, Blushing Bride Pleated Ribbon

I also used the marker to color the row of hearts along the bottom of the piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock. It gave the hearts more "texture" than just using the ink pad. And, don't you just adore that pleated ribbon!!? It is available in 4 colors - all coordinate with this Designer Series Paper. It is so soft and actually very easy to work with. But, it does work best if you just add it as a flat layer and don't wrap it around behind. Gets a bit bulky if you do.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and for your continued support through my absence. I appreciate you all so much and love the opportunity to share my ideas with you :) 'Til next time.........................

Happy Stamping,

Laurie

Remember to get your mammogram!

Apothecary Art and new Framelits

Wow! My life has been so crazy lately! But, I finally got some time to stamp this weekend and play with all of my new "toys" from the Occasions Mini Catalog and my Sale-a-Bration preorder. Can you say, "OH MY GOODNESS!!!"? I am having sooooo much fun! I knew I had to do my very first card using the awesome new Framelits....LOVE these!!! I have been waiting a long time for Stampin' Up to come out with something like this - they are amazing!

And the best part is the coordinating stamp set.....Apothecary Art. The images in this set fit perfectly with the Labels Collection Framelits. It was difficult to choose which image to use first, but I finally chose this one:



I love the way the floral image is mirrored on opposite sides of the banner. I colored the image with markers. I stamped an extra image and cut the banner from the second one, then stamped the words and colored the edge before attaching it with dimensionals. Then I added a special touch with some pearls and attached the entire label with dimensionals:



The final touch was one of the fabulous new hat pins. I think they are very cool on a project that looks vintage. I attached the seam binding and lace trim as flat pieces to the card first and then tied separate bows of each. I stuck the hat pin through the knots to join them and then threaded the body of the pin behind the large portion of the label. It just laid there so nice. I didn't even have to use glue dots or anything to attach the bows. But, I did decide to put one on the back of the lace bow just for added support.



The complete list of supplies:

Stamp Set: Apothecary Art

Cardstock: Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Gray, Lucky Limeade

Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Basic Pearls, Pool Party 1/2-inch Seam Binding, Victoria Lace Trim, Hat Pin, Pool Party and Lucky Limeade Markers, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

I just love the way this turned out! The framelits are my absolute favorite new accessory for my Big Shot! I can't wait to try the Hearts Collection, too. They are just tooo fun!! I sure hope you don't get sick and tired of seeing them over the next few months..lol :) And, I promise that you will see them alot. I must say that I will be quite disappointed if this stamp set doesn't make it into the new catalog in July. The images are gorgeous! And they are wonderful for the vintage style that I have grown to love so much.

Update on the homefront....Things are progressing rather slowly with Jim's treatment. They have stopped all chemotherapy because he has had some pretty severe side effects for several months now. His in the hospital right now and they are working hard to get things under control. But, it just seems like he takes one step forward and two steps back. I thank God every day for my friends and family and all of your support and prayers. And having time to stamp gives me a much needed break from the craziness and frustration. So, I hope you will all hang in there with me this year. I know it will get better! "Til next time..............................,

Happy Stamping,

Laurie

Remember to get your mammogram!