Top 5 Two weeks in a row!

I am SO honored to have made the top 5 at the Pink Elephant Challenge for the second week in a row! It is such an honor to be chosen! (I have to admit that I have my eyes set on that number 1 spot. A bit competitive? Perhaps... Grin) I'll have to get to work on this week's challenge!

How about another QKD example? This is another card that I made for my design team audition. I used the June Bird set. I love the chandelier stamp I used for the back ground. I just love the colors and how it all came together.

Can I go on the record and say that I LOVE Baja Breeze? So much that I went to Home Depot and color matched some paint for my master bathroom?? Oh yes, Baja Breeze bathroom and I think we definitely need brown mats and towels. Yes....

Any who, I used that yummy SU! designer paper and a Verve sentiment with my silver embossed birdie. I love it and I love the way it all turned out.

Enjoy!

Big News!!!

OMG, OMG, I am SO excited!! I was asked to be a Royal Stamping Maid for Queen Kat Designs!! HOORAY!!! I absolutely love their images and I am SO excited to be joining the team!

They had a call at the beginning of March and I had 2 of my 3 submissions completed when we were called to NY. This month there was a super quick call and I was able to complete my cards and get them sent off! Today there was an e-mail in my in-box asking if I wanted to join the team! ABSOLUTELY!!

Well, to start off my term, I had to show you a fabo image from QKD. This is Tilly from the Whimsical Sorority line. Isn't she awesome??!!


I colored her with copics and covered her tail with Stickles. Isn't she beautiful? You can see the sparkles on her tail.

I wanted to make the swirls look like seaweed. Does it work?

I promise to have more QKD stuff in the coming days, just keep checking back! In the mean time, I have some cleaning and cooking to do. I have some ladies coming over to tomorrow from the Alumnae Association. We have to eat something!

Oooo, on another note, I got carded TWICE in the last 2 days! Yeah! Yesterday at the liquor store and tonight at Target buying my ghetto bottle of Lambrusco. 33 and I still have it!

Have a good night!

3 days off

I am SO enjoying my 3 day weekend! I'm a little sad that I'm on the last day, but I only have to work for 3 days then we go off to the beach! My pale self could SO use some sun. Hopefully it won't rain!

In the mean time I whipped this up for the Verve sketch challenge. I hadn't had a chance to ink up this flower or sentiment yet and it seemed to go perfectly with this designer paper. I really like how the kiwi kiss paper works with the gray.

It's been raining here off and on today and right now it seems to be off. Hopefully it''ll hold off when we head out to grill. I can't wait for the patio to be put in so that we won't have to grill on the backyard!

Have a Happy Memorial Day!

Stamps: All Verve Stamps

Ink: Old Olive, Copics

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, My Mind's Eye - Bloom and Grow

Accessories: Ribbon from Ribbon Retreat, Dew Drops

Little Monkey's Memorial Day Sale

There is a big sale going on Store More Stamps! Can you think of a better way to spend your long weekend? Sure there are cookouts and BBQs but you can't have to come inside sometime. So, in a trip in, shoot over to Store More Stamps . All you have to do is use the code MEMORIAL25 at check out and receive 25% off your purchase of $25 or more! If you'd been thinking about the starter system, it'll be only $21.75! That's a LOT of stamp storage. But the coupon code is only good until the 30th, so maker sure you take advantage!

Don't forget to check out the newest colors while you're there. I just love the Garden Bloom Set!

Have a great weekend!

Still here!

I'm here! Things have been a little crazy this week but I finally got some time in the stamp room! We're doing some renovations to the house like getting a patio and replacing the grass we killed with some sod. I think if I had a sod company, my logo would be: "We're the sod people." Tee Hee... Sod People.

Any who, here is my submission for this week's TCPTUES. I know that I have to get it submitted by Saturday night so here it is!!! Carole made a fabo sketch this week that I just loved. It even made me do have to do math...


Dontcha just love that ribbon? I found this super cool place called The Ribbon Retreat. They have the coolest colors, guaranteed to match every color cardstock and they are SUPER reasonable. When your order comes in you' want to spread them all over the bed and roll in them because they're SO delicious. Really you will, until DH comes home and asks you what's going on...

The kitty looks so naughty, he reminds me so much of Titus, I had to color kitty to look like him. Titus knows where I hid the extra hair bands and he goes into the bathroom, opens the cabinet and gets them out. I don't know why he loves head bands.

Alright, enough for now!
Enjoy!!

Stamps - The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Crate Barrel dp, Kraft - PTI, Kiwi Kiss
Ink: Palette Noir Black, close to Coco, Copics, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Ribbon from the ribbon retreat.

A little art and a treat...

I would like to point out that while it may SEEM that I am a little behind posting my card for the Weekend Stamping challenge, I'm really not. You see, I started the card on Sunday which was the weekend. I just didn't get it finished until yesterday and posted today.

I am so in love with these colors right now. The yellow with red and flowers. So summery. We're getting ready to put a patio on the back of the house and I've been looking and furniture. Guess which colors I'm gravitating towards... Yep, now to convince Kev.

I think this stamp from Unity is so adorable and I thought it would go perfectly with this paper from My Mind's Eye. If you look closely behind the card, you can see a furry something. As I was taking this picture Titus jumped up on the table and stalked around behind my picture. I took a few pictures and apparently the best picture of the lot is the one with a kitty behind in the background. Yep, that's what you're looking at.

Enjoy!

Lara

Stamps: Unity Stamp Co

Paper: My Mind's Eye, SU - Ridding Hood Red and So Saffron

Ink: Copic Markers, Palette Noir black ink

Accessories: Tiny Twinkles, Ridding Hood Red ribbon,

Happy dance!

Guess what! I made the top 5 at the Pink Elephant Challenge this week!!! YEAH!!! Happy happy dance. I now have this super fabulous blinkie to post on my blog!!

Well, I have to play along with this week's challenge, right??! This week the challenge is monograms and letters. I was really excited to bring out my Just Rite monogram set. I absolutely love the font. (Even though I stamped it 12 times b/c I thought the B was upside down. Really I did.)

I still had the coral and gray paper on my desk from the SU! card swap and thought it would be beautiful paired with PTI's Damask Designs. So pretty together.

Well, off to watch the American Idol finale! GO ADAM!!!

PRETTY!! fowers!

I had a very sleepy weekend. I don't even want to talk about how late I slept in on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I didn't get much accomplished Saturday. Got up, went strawberry picking and Kev went to rehearsal. While he was away, I decided to get a mani / pedi.

I have a confession, this was my 3rd pedi ever. Yes, 3rd. You see, I have ridiculously ticklish feet, I can actually tickle my own feet. Don't say it isn't possible, 'cause I can totally do it. Just the thought of someone touching me feet freaks me out. Sometimes when I have an itch on the bottom of my foot, I can't scratch it because it tickles too much. Please don't think I run around with narsty feet, I don't. I also have the freakish ability to touch my nose with my foot. Very handy when giving yourself pedicures. I just do it myself to avoid kicking someone in the head. (Yes, I have kicked Kev in the head when he's grabbed my feet. In my defense, he was given fair warning.)

So, I went to get my toes done and I only squealed once AND she made it through the whole pedicure, arch massage and all!!! GO ME!!! I did give her fair warning before she started, so she knew. When my foot would start to tense, she would yell, "Read your book!". Hey, it worked! I'm very excited to have a pedi that I didn't have to do myself!

I did get a little something crafty done today. I'm going to an SU! swap Tuesday night, it's one where a bunch of demos will be there to swap and to talk about the opportunity to people who might show up. My demo asked me if I wanted to make a card to swap. Well, since I do have a rep to uphold, I said yes. I needed to make 11 card fronts and thankfully she came over tonight to help me get them finished.



Check it out, ALL SU! products. I did have to follow the swap rules! I wasn't planning on doing the shading on every single card I swapped, but she convinced me that it gave a lot of texture to the rose. I stamped the rose in white craft ink on Cameo Coral paper and heat embossed it. We used a blender pen and Cameo Coral ink on the petals. I just love how elegant these colors look together and I am absolutely in LOVE with this stamp set. I think it might have to come home with me.

Alrighty, Sunday night means clothes foldin'

Enjoy!

Lara

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Flowers - SU!

Ink: White Craft, Cameo Coral, Basic Black - SU!

Paper: Going Gray, Cameo Coral, Whisper White - SU!

Accessories - Going Gray Ribbon, clear embossing powder - SU!

I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee

Won't my mommy be so proud of me. la de da de da de bumble bee. Love, love, love Ruby the owl dressed as a bee. How cute is she?? When I saw this glittered designer paper at Archivers, I knew they were destined to be together.

I just wanted to make a quick post tonight before veg-ing out on the couch. Kev and I are watching DVR'd episodes of Harper's Island. I really think I could have written a better show. We're watching it for the awful factor. I don't feel a connection to any of the characters. Really wouldn't be sad if the killer did them all in. I personally think it would be really cool if at the end of the episode you could call in and vote on what they should do next, like one of those choose your own adventure books. I would be an awesome screen writer.

Enjoy!

Stamps: Ruby as a bee - Jennifer Lynn Original Stamps
Paper - DP from archivers, Basic Grey and So Saffron
Ink - Palette Noir Black and Copics
Accessories - So Saffron ribbon button and Prima flower

Do you play with the elephant?

Pink Elephant challenges you dirty birdie. Every week there is a new one and this time it was to make a card using blue, green and white. I used more birdies, still can't stop with the birds. Perhaps I should get a stamp of a butterfly or something. But I still LOVE the birdies!!

I made my very own embellishment. I wrestled the polka dot flower from Titus who was laying under my table, added the flower and ribbon. Cute!!! I added some tiny twinkles to the birdie tail, then I cried, "I need tinyer twinkles!!! Tinyer!!!!" So, I got the littlest I could find.

I think this would be a great "thinking of you" card or just a little pick me up.
Enjoy!
Lara

Stamps: Black Tie Birdies - Verve Stamps
Ink: Chocolate Chip - Stamping Up!, Copic Marker
Paper: Cosmo Cricket - Girl Friday, PTI - Ocean Tides, white and SU! Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Ribbon - PTI, Taylors Tiny Twinkles, Button, flower, silver elastic cord

I'm a winner!

At least that's what my mom tells me. Grin.

A few posts down I talked about the new Whimsical Ink Sorority and how they were having a promotion to win their new stamps. Guess what? I'm the winner!!! Whoo Hoo! I get 5 of the new stamps in the line PLUS one that hasn't even been released yet. How awesome is that??!!!

I can't wait to get them and show them off!

A little late, but that's OK.

This weekend Kevin went to the furniture store and picked up the most awesome chair ever! We bought it last weekend when we were in my car and needed to go back with the SUV. I've been waiting for it all week and I am SO excited that it's here. I absolutely love it!! So here is a picture of the much anticipated chair!

Huh, looks like Titus loves my chair... Can you see the cat hair all over my lovely black cushion?
I used half of a lint roller to clean up all of that fluffy hair.

Oh look, Godiva likes the chair too. Of all the surfaces to sit on in this house, they have claimed my chair... I can't say that I blame them, it truly is awesome. Every time I walk past it there's a cat on my chair.

OK, Mom, if you are reading this, STOP! Your Mother's Day card is on here. Really, stop. You can read it later after your card arrives. I was a little late in getting her finished, but it did go out in the mail today. Her present also arrived today the card will just be a few days behind.

I needed a little help for this one so I played along with Amy R's sketch challenge for this one. I am seriously sketch impaired and I need all of the help I can get!

I love this flowery tree from Cornish Heritage farms. The set is too cute! The butterflies are from the set as well and after I put them on, they looked a little gigantic next to the tree. Like baby Mothras, but I love them just the same.

How about a close up of the trees and glittery butterflies? I covered them with Stickles and added some Taylor's Tiny Twinkles to the tree.

I'm trying to be quick with this post since it's getting late and I have to work tomorrow. Let me leave you with just one last image before I go.

This is the definition of bliss, pure bliss. I frequently find him in this position throughout the house. I got a kick out of him laying in the sun.

Enjoy!

Lara

Stamps - Cornish Heritage Farms, Verve sentiment

Ink - Palette Noir Black ink, Copics, SU! chocolate chip

Paper - Taylor's monthly kit, DP by Crate Paper and MME.

Accessories - Stickles, Tiny Twinkles, ribbon, Primas, hemp twine

Rockin it out.

So happy for the weekend. We've been doing a lot of little home improvements the past few weeks and we had a few things to do today. The big one was to get the new desk for my craft room. It was on super clearance and we had to get it into the SUV. It barely fit but Kev and I got it home, up the stairs and into my room. I realized today why we hired movers. We've got some crazy heavy furniture upstairs, WAY heavier than that desk. But, it's in there and looks SO much nicer than the folding table I had in there. I have to to a little tidying, but will post some pictures soon.

In the mean time, I played along with a weekend sketch challenge. I got to ink up this cutie owl stamp from Jessica Lynn Originals. It's an emo kid owl. Ha Ha... When I saw it I couldn't resist. It's a line of stamps dedicated to Brentwood owl. I know Brentwood is supposed to be a boy, but I had an uncontrollable urge to do up the card in pink and gray. The pink streaks just seemed to go. As I was making it I kept thinking that she was getting all dolled up to head to Hot Topic with her other emo friends. Not that she cares about looking good, but, you know, whatever...

Whoo, I'm glad I got this picture taken earlier today, the rain is really coming down out there.

Enjoy!
Lara

Stamps: Emo owl, Jessica Lynn original Stamps, sentiment - Stamping Bella
Ink: Going Gray - SU, Pallete Noir Black, Copics
Paper - DP - Pink Paislee, Grey and pink - SU!
Accessories - Ribbon, circle Nestibilities, pearl strands, prima flowers, felt flower, baubles, Stickles.

More TCP Tues

Well, not really more of this week's TCPTUES, just an entry for a new week. Before I talk about what I made, can I just take a minute to vent? This week the air conditioner broke...AGAIN. You see, it breaks EVERY year when we first turn it on. Every year they come to fix it and every year it breaks. Here's the bad part. We had this house built 3.5 years ago and moved in March 06, so 4 summers, and 4 breakings. We haven't paid for the fixing since it's an outstanding issue, but still it breaks. I hate sleeping in hot.

This time a valve was fixed. I can't imaging what it next year. At least it's fixed for another 11 months.

K, how about a happier note, here is my submission for TCPTUES. The challenge was to make a card using navy, green and white. I kinda made my own interpretation and used olive, a different blue and cream.

I found some boho flower paper in my stash that matched the colors. I also played along with the sketch challenge on SCS. Overall, I think it's pretty groovy.

Here's a closeup of the embellishments I used. I love little sparkly things. Does that make them... Tiny Baubles?!?! harde har har... tiny baubles... I was SO proud of that one today and couldn't wait to get home and put it on the blog.

I need to get a little sleep (hopefully) before Kev gets home. You see, Kev LOVES Star Trek and we have tickets to the 9:55pm show. I am hoping against all hope that at least 1 person is dressed in Trek regalia. PLEASE just one.

Enjoy!

Lara

Whimsical Ink Sorority

Did you know that there is a new sorority in town? Sure is! The Whimsical Ink Sorority. It was founded by Queen Kat Designs and is launching a new line of fabulous whimsical stamps. Head on over there are check the out! Are you interested in pledging? It's not hard and you don't have to got through 5 days of formal rush.

All you have to do is head on over to their blog and grab up a blinkie and post it to your blog! Then ask your friends to pledge as well. It's not hard and you don't have to eat your way through house after house of hoers d' oeuvres. After you've finished, let them know where you posted and you'll be entered to win some fabo prizes!!

As you can see, I pledged, won't you?

In honor of the Whimsical Sorority, I decided to break out a picture from the archives and show you the first time I pledged. Yep, this is Bid Night 1994 at Xi Chapter, University of Pittsburgh. I was a fresh faced 18 year old and I just accepted my bid to join Kappa Delta sorority. To this day I am so grateful for the friendships I've made over the years as a result of being a KD.

Can you find me? I'm right in front on the right side. Can you believe I thought that baby doll dress with the patchwork bottom was cool?? Oh mid 90s, how you tormented us.

Have a great evening and don't forget to wear your pledge pin!!

National Scrapbook day

Did you know that today is National Scrapbook day? I'm sure that droves of people are running to their local craft stores to participate in crops in an effort to celebrate this esteemed holiday in proper style. I must confess, that while I am a card maker, I am not a scrabooker. I haven't made a single page, attended a crop or bought an album.

But today, this holiday brings a change. You see, The Design Monkeys were asked if we'd like to participate in a blog hop in honor of National Scrapbook Day. You see, in addition to the hop, Little Monkey's is offering a fabulous promotion and if you spend $50, you'll get a free stamp! ($15 value!!) Pretty cool if you ask me! So to commemorate the sale and this day, I have made my VERY FIRST scrapbook page. VERY FIRST. I was having trouble deciding what to do, I thought that a scrapbook page dedicated to the cats was a little sad. Since we don't have any kids, it would be an album of cats. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I'm sure there are beautiful scrapbooks full of cats.

So, I decided to make a page for a friend of mine who just had her 2nd baby. She sent some

awfully adorable pictures of her 2 kids and I thought it would be really cute ion a scrapbook page in frame.

Ok, so there aren't any pictures on the page nor is it in a frame. You see, my brother is making enlargements of the picture I want to use and doing some photoshop thing to it. However, he's off running the Pittsburgh marathon today or something like that... So, insert REALLY cute picture in the center and imagine it in the frame!

Have a happy scrapbook day and don't forget to head over to Store More Stamps!!