How sweet it is!

Does this box of yummies make you just want to eat one?

Love the colors, love the layout, love chocolate, love this set-period.

Here is another card using Be Mine. It is a new release by MFT (ready for order the 9th).

I LOVE chocolate. So I had a blast making this card.

I used some yummy ribbon my American Crafts, and my cuttlebug embossing folder. I think these colors should be the official Valentine’s Day colors.

I am starting weight watcher’s next week,on the 15th. I chose that day cause everyone starts the first. I want to be in the mindset that I am starting a life style change-not a diet (as Dr. Phil would say).

 My goal is to get ALL the chocolate OUT of my house.

NO! I don’t mean throw it away! That is a form of chocolate abuse! I am NOT an abusive person. I will properly dispose of each morsel-myself! LOL!

I am lucky Im not the size of an elephant-with all the coffee I drink (lots of sugar and cream) and chocolate I love. I just have a few pounds that crept up on me through out the year. It mainly starts with the stress eatting when Alexa gets sick, then goes from there.

I drop it in 2 months, then gain it back slowly over the year. GOOD TIMES.

THIS year, I turn 30. So if it kills me I WILL use my exercise machine and get my toned ab’s back! I want to say that I look HOT in my 30’s, not LOOKED Hot for some of my 20’s. No I don’t look HOT now-but I will. BY my 30th birthday May 3rd.

I LOVE the DVD- Turbo Jam! Its only 20 minutes of a great workout! You lose 10 inches in 10 days! Its great. There is also some 10 min. stuff for when you are way crunched for time. Hey its better than munching for 10 min. or sitting on the computer.

OK by better I mean better for your butt.

So tell me if YOU have a new plan to get in better shape this year. Or share a diet you are on or plan to try, exercise video, meal plan-WHATEVER you want! I want to know I’m not alone in this insanity we women put on ourselves 😀

Ok I do have another SWEET idea for you! This one is FAT FREE 😀

I also hope it makes you view everyday items (especially SALE items) differently.

While shopping the discounts at Rite Aid I found this cupcake rack! It was on SALE for only $2.99!!!!!

I decided it would be PERFECT for my smaller bottle of Prima’s, and my Martha Stewart glitter. For photo purposes I did not FILL it. I wanted you to see how it looks.

Since I have the wire racks to store my stamps it fits in so nicely.

Who would think a cupcake rack could be used by a stamper? We are just the most innovative, resourceful, and crafty people on the planet aren’t we?!

THAT being said Debra shared a link with me that blew me away! Check it out

$6 Ink Pad Holder

Now that my friends is genius. I would love to actually try it.

Do you have any cool tips or unusual uses you want to share? Post them here!

Share the LOVE!!!

OK, I gotta run. Alexa has pneumonia too. So it will be a long, and late night. We spent the day at the doctor’s. She looks OK, but we need to hope no high fevers-otherwise we are IN HOUSE! Her counts are fabulous though! Thank God! That is good.

Amber is pretty much back to her terrible three’s. Who says 2 is bad? 3 is far worse.

But I love her to pieces and would FREEZE her at this point, as she is adorable. Yes, I am a sucker.

 Till tomorrow.

Today is the 7th, and that means we (MFT Designers) can now post with the New! Releases. I have some great samples, over the next few days, to share. It is so hard making stuff, then having to sit on it, for over a month-in some cases!

January releases 3 sets. They are Be Mine (mini set used here), Punny Farm and Happy Occasions. The release date will be January 9th! There will also be a cocktail party at the  MFT Forum. More on that later.

I don’t know about YOU, but my wallet HURTS with all these fabulous sets being released by all these companies. Worst thing is the releases aren’t over! Still got Paper Trey! I’m sure other’s that my brain can’t wrap around right now.

Also released yesterday was more digi paper by MFT—–> Kiss Collection. I am dying to use mine. I just got it loaded, and have yet to get “my time” to play. We did have a great weekend filled with time with friends. That is always nice.

So for my samples today I chose to use the set I am loving, called Be Mine. I used the MFT sketch challenge for this week-you will see samples by entering a keyword MFTSC12.

It was fun finally doing a challenge.

I LOVE hearts, and I LOVE black 😀 So I was very happy with this.

I think the center black heart just pops! To make sure of that, I colored my Making Memories heart shape tag rim, with a sharpie marker. Attached with terrific tape.

I also used Behind the Scenes, for the stripped panel, instead of a paper layer. Sometimes you don’t have the right paper KWIM? So this was perfect. Plus it’s nice to use stamps for your own pattern creation.

The ribbon is a black satin, that I got a Target for $2.99 for 15yds 😀 It helps make this elegant.

I had fun with these colors and elements, so I went on to make a simple card.

Admittedly, this may just be too plain Jane :C But its still cute right?

I LOVE the hanging heart. Oh well, maybe with some tweaking………….

Let’s just say after 3pm my brain shuts down, and the creative juices run dry. I have made worse-trust me!

So stay tuned…………….I hope to get lots of happy mail this week, and get some off to secret friends.

Thanks for reading.

Till tomorrow.

My heart is really a flutter, with the New! Lizzie Anne Release.

Have you seen all the must haves?

I think I am the only designer who doesn’t have her sets :C YET.

So, you know my mailman JOE (yes we are on a first name basis, yes the PO knows my voice, and yes they call me now when I have a package there to give me the option of an early pick-up!) is getting stalked tomorrow-for SURE! Its nice living in a small town.

I was able to order ALL of them! Except I missed the Far East one. No idea HOW I didn’t order it, but I didn’t-YET. I love the lantern in the set-way cute.

So tonight the party starts at 10pm EST. YEAH! There will be games and prizes too 😀

In honor here is a sample I made using Heart to Heart (heart with wings) and L’Amour (swirly hearts/sentiment). Not made with a NEW set, but still a great one.

Masculine Hearts A Flutter

 click

This may just be Jason’s V-day card. Is it NOT fabulously manly-yet with that touch of LOVE 😀

I embossed both the heart, and the swirl with white EP. I didn’t dust away the trails of excess powder, cause it added to the look I felt. I colored the little hearts with my Fantastixand versamagic dew drops in Aegean blue. The wings were gently colored with a white crayon pencil thingy, on thetured cardstock-for that soft look.

My favorite Dreaming of Dots will be revealed later as well! I LOVE that set. You will see…….it’s such a LAUREN set 😀

OK thanks for looking.

Till tomorrow. Enjoy the release.

While blog hopping-(something I RARELY get to do), I found this idea on Julie’s Blog. It is to find your word, to describe what you want in 2008!

It originated at Ali Edwards blog, from what I understand. Its like follow the link, to the link, to the link! LOL!

My word is ACHIEVE!

If you know me this is not shocking. I think its what I want for 2008. To me it has many meanings. I think it best describes what I want in life as whole.

Here is the dictionary version

a·chieve play_w(“A0053600”)

 (-chv)

v. a·chieved, a·chiev·ing, a·chieves

v.tr.

1. To perform or carry out with success; accomplish. See Synonyms at perform.

2. To attain with effort or despite difficulty. See Synonyms at reach.

v.intr.

To accomplish something successfully; perform at a standard or above standard level: skills needed to achieve in school.

I think it’s important to continue to better your best. I don’t mean that in a competitive way. I don’t feel I need to “compete” or compare. I am who I am, and am only interested in beating out myself. To continue to strive to become the best LAUREN I can be.

I believe in hard work, bumps in the road, and pushing past obstacles. That is what gives us strength, character , confidence and accomplishment.

I have many goals for 2008- for my family, personal health, my children, and career.

So if you could only use ONE-What is YOUR word?

Ill be back tomorrow to share a MFT Sneak Peek!

I know we do! It is up to the sill of my stamp room window. So at minimum 2 feet.

Gotta love New England. I really don’t know if I could live someplace without 4 seasons.

Unless that place happened to be Hawaii! I’m sure I could “adjust”. When Jason and I went there for our Honeymoon it was pure HEAVEN on EARTH.

I made this card the other day. After a big storm. When I saw Daisyboardabella I knew I HAD to have her! I saw Gina K posted that these snowflakes were at Target. So I had to get me some 😀 They SO made this card.

My colors were picked up from my SEI Ally’s Wonderland. You know I LOVE my Copic’s.

I used my Scor-Pal to create the border on my Bella!

I did get some ROCKIN stuff on my shopping venture. Some I cannot share cause I was finishing up my Secret Friendship stuff. Don’t worry I will share as the week goes on.  I NEED to get those OUT!

I am contemplating the Crafty Secrets Coffee & Tea set.  Any opinions on weather I should buy it?

Im stressing about the $30 for UNMOUNTED. I have had my eye on it for quite some time. I am by NO means vintagey-but this set is cutesy and I LOVE it.

Anyone have it and want to sell it? Or trade for THIS set-I have it brand new!! Cute, it’s just not LAUREN.

OK off topic-

So my card-the reason I made it…………………..

Make a Wish gave us a FULL day of ski/snowboard/snowtubing passes with rentals included! So, when we go, I will bring this as a Thank You! Its so nice of these places to donate things like that for families with sick kids. Means alot, and gives them something to look forward to. I want them to know HOW appreciated it really is.

Speaking of giving back, and Make A Wish-YES AGAIN!! I was informed by Lori of a post HERE on SCS. Thanks Lori. You can read the details there. If you can help-fabulous! I’m sure we all have un-used stuff we could pass on.

Another thing I am doing (YEAH!!!), is helping with Gina K’s new stamp set for a cause called- How Sweet It Is!

 Seven dollars of every set sold will be divided equally between the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

How cool is that? You must read Gina’s personal story too. Very touching.

I JUST got my set yesterday, and will bust my butt to get some super-cute, enabling samples just for you to NEED the set. C’mon peep’s! Its rubbah and it supports a cause. HOW can you NOT love that?

Gina ROCKS!!! I also ordered her new sets. How cute are they??

Let me know if you get “in” on the new Gina K.

I’d also LOVE to hear what you think of the New! Lizzie Anne stuff. I am STALKING my mailman Monday! My box better be here 😀

I am so dying to play with their new stuff.

Oh, and wait till you see the new MFT!! MORE Cute stuff. Only 3 New! Releases this month though.

Oh is it not just ALL amazing? Where does everyone keep coming up with this stuff? SERIOUSLY!
 

So today is Saturday! I LOVE Saturdays. Not just because I get to see what YOU do with my sketches, but because its the weekend, and there is ONE more day off from the hustle and bustle of LIFE!

Anyway-this week when stamping I made this card

 Thanks-

It used the “thanks” sentiment from the Thank You set, Green Grass Stamps. Tammy puts up a new sample with her sets, on her blog daily-you can see them HERE. Its pretty cool.

Anyway, so I stamped away. This was what I came up with.

Here is the sketch-click for larger view

Now upon photographing it I flipped it! I saw this when I did-

SAME card-whole new look!!! Cool huh?? OK so its not a whole NEW card, but you’d never know right.

So, I decided to create ANOTHER card, using this sketch:

 click for larger view.

Now talk about versatile huh?

 I was so excited. Especially since I have never seen a sketch like this before. Talk about fresh, fun and funky! I also tried to use BRIGHTER colors. Me being in a spring mood and all, I wanted to get out of my “comfort” zone, and this was definitely OUT. But, I love it.

This card uses the ipodabella, the sentiment from Essential Sentiments (which are way popular!! I have had them on order for a friend for a few weeks! SOLD OUT-and rightfully so), Border’s and Corner’s and the Music Player.

Put them all together, and you get one HOT card 😀

The flowers are by Prima-Got Prints No 6. After pulling them out, I have been SO inspired by their colors 😀 Gotta get inspiration where you can right?

So that being said-get inspired. Do the sketch whichever way you see fit.

I’d love for you to send us a link here so we can all see your take!

NOW- as a EXTRA challenge-try it both ways!

Thanks for checkin in-

I wanted to let you all know that Amber is doing well. Thanks for the concern. Her antibiotics needed to be changed, but all is well.

Alexa did well this round of Chemo. She does have a thyroid issue, but otherwise seems good. I am so happy she is able to be in school FULL time!!! What a change since last year.

She gets the occasional cold, that brings me to my knee’s in prayer, that she will not get too compromised. She has one now, so we will see.

God is good. I just keep on going.

Daisy is also great. Lovin the snow-but her hiney is not wanting to poop in it anymore :C Leaving lots of “accidents”. But she is the BEST lil thing otherwise, so we will keep her! LOL!

She gained 3 lbs! And is at her half way mark for weight. She has gotten stronger, and takes running leaps up onto the couch.

She also runs UP the snowbanks, and flattens her paws to “slide” down. Its WAY cute. She has quite the personality. OK Now Im an official crazy dog owner-right?

The kids lover and are very attentive. Sometimes too much.

She will be getting fixed on the 31st :C

OK I gotta run-get inking!

Till tomorrow…………………………….

Happy Saturday!

Im in a rush today! I am off to shop at my LSSwith my friend Paulette. We will most likely do some damage there (insert evil grin). Can you say BELLA’s!

This weeks blogger’s challenge was pink & brown! MY FAVORITE!!!

I needed to make a thank you for my friend who bought me my Keurig coffee machine, and what better way to say thanks than make a faux coffee cup shaped thanks.

This was really pretty easy! The fold is at the top.

I used glossy white cardstock for the “lid”. Natural ivory for my base.

I LOVE coffee themed sets, and realized I don’t have enough! LOL! I have this one by Gel-A-Tins called Coffee Break for MONTHS!!! I had to have it! Now I finally got to use it!

The sentiment reads-You are the mocha latte in the world full of cheap machine coffee.

I chose that because my Keurig ROCKS!! Not like any cheapo coffee machine. I’m getting in coffee shop coffee quality every time 😀

My thanks a latte sentiment is from another fav. set-called Hot Stuff. It was PERFECT!

My Scor-Pal rescued me, by making my score’s in the right places 😀

The ribbon is by May Arts.

Thats pretty much all of it.

I do have to run-but will be back with a KILLER sketch! SERIOUSLY! Wait till you see it 😀

Till later

 Girls Night Out

Now let me tell you, while I like party set’s , Im really not good with using them.

WHY?

I’m not big on writing out a bunch of info. But I think for only a few, it would be OK. I can also print the info off on the computer. But it wasn’t the party info part that got me interested in this set, it was the other elements, that to me, are so unique.

This new set from Lizzie Anne is called It’s a Party, and it got me in a tailspin of ideas. I totally {love} it. You can order it in just a couple more days.

So I glanced at the list image provided and thought what a cool idea. I quickly had a lightbulb moment-to have the bling be the “check mark” for my selections 😀

Now if THAT doesn’t scream GIRLS NIGHT out, nothing does!

I also popped out a circle in the white layer. Matted it on the black layer, then popped out a smaller circle from white, and stamped the flower. I put it in the center on dimensionals. Its really cool in person.

What else is cool?

Well Its a pull tag invite-see

Now I not this is not revolutionary, but I do like my way of the tag being held in place-

 Click this for a larger view.

What I did was seal, then cut down an envelope. Sandwiched it between 2 cardstock layers. The front panel is the black layer, the back is the Lilac layer, which also mats the front layer.

Cute huh?

So your tag easily slips in and out, and won’t fall out. You could even attach some chocolate or a wine charm or something since there is plenty of room to add a little bulk 😀

Hope you like it!!

I also have a couple of things getting published using this set soon 😀

So keep your eyes open.

Today is THE day! You can place your order at ATS, and get the 2 newest releases—->HERE😀 As my card says these 2 new sets ARE the cat’s meow! LOL! Seriously-for $11.99, you can’t beat that. Plus free S/H in US for orders over $10!!

Don’t forget to check out all the new stuff she has in. I check her New Products section daily. I keep filling my cart till I’m ready to have it sent! LOL!

This card uses the Love Ya Lots. I still have 2 more SUPER cute cards with these sets to share. One will be the Sketch tomorrow 😀 I think! LOL!

The paper is by Stampin Up!

I have to say I LOVE my layout 😀 I work hard to always have cool new ones to share. Most importantly is keeping it clean and simple-yet detailed. Oh well, I’ll stop blabbering so you can go place your order 😀

I will be back later, to share my blogger’s challenge card with everyone.

Its HOT!!! So you won’t want to miss it. Its also SIMPLE which is a miracle! LOL!

I get some of the BEST emails! So many of you are so sweet to take the time and share things with me. From comments, to photos, exciting news in your life, prayers, art,friendship-all of it! I am so blessed by it ALL!

Sometimes, I wish you would post it here for other’s to enjoy!

THIS particular email I received from Ann Williams-a book binder, was pretty amazing in my opinion. She also sent me a copy of the book she and her friend wrote, in honor of their Mother’s called A Celebration of Motherhood.

Its a collection of Poem’s from the Victorian era. Really beautiful book. Thank you so much Anne. I need your address, so I can send you a Thank You!

I felt her knowledge was not only useful to us as papercrafter’s but should be shared with many! 

Read it, and ENJOY! I was quite grateful to learn something NEW!

This email was copy/pasted, with Ann’s permission. Nothing was changed.

Hi Lauren,

I subscribe to your blog and was reading your article about the scor-pal. when you were talking about your paper cracking when you folded it without scoring I was wondering if you are familiar with paper grain. I am a bookbinder and paper grain is very important. I am surprised to know how many people don’t realize that paper has a grain like fabric. 

If you take a small piece of paper and fold it one way you will see a very different look than when you fold it the other way. One fold will be clean and the other fold will be cracked and wide.

To check for paper grain place the edge of a piece of paper (preferably a 12 X 12 piece of cardstock) on the table and place the palm of your hand on the opposite edge of the paper. Create an arc with the paper by gently bending it and doing a soft bounce. Try to hold the bounce in your mind. Then turn the paper one rotation to have the edge rest on the table and then repeat the bounce. One of the bounces will be a softer bounce with less resistance to your hand.  The softer bounce will be the grain of the paper and also the fold line. I know it is difficult to explain this in words and I wish I could demonstrate it in person. It will change your life. I still believe the score pal is a wonderful tool and I am going to get one myself, but believe me putting the paper on the score tool with the grain along the lines to be scored will still improve the look of your fold.

I will give you another tip. I only buy 12 X 12 paper of any kind. If you find the paper grain on an 8 1/2 piece of paper it generally isn’t big enough to fold it on grain for a regular size card.

It might help you to do a demo on a piece of scrap paper. Just take a mister spray bottle and lightly mist a piece of cardstock. It will curl with the grain. When we make books it is so important that the grains of the bookboards and the papers match. If one goes one way and the other goes the other way it will warp. they fight each other and each it trying to win..

Blessings

Ann

Thank you so much Ann, for writing, and agreeing in sharing this with the world!

Hope you found it informative, and get to test it out 😀

Now a side note-when speaking of the cracking, it wasn’t when I used the scor-pal it was before I used it, and would fold my paper on my own.

I really hope to try this out soon.