OK Im posting this a day early! I am going to be WAY too busy to post it tomorrow!

Fright Night, Hit the Beach and Falling for you are all being released this week! YEAH!!! So get ready to fill your shopping carts and start prepping for the holiday early!!! That the best part about being a concept designer-you start prepping for holiday way in advance!

You can get these My Favorite Things sets here, All That Scraps, and eP.

Bewitched

How cute is this set?? Im not a big Halloween person but Kim has outdone herself on this one!

Wait till you see all the images. Every item I made with this set was accepted for publication (WAHOOOO!) So, I had to whip up another sample quick.

This card uses my Saturday sketch, slightly tweaked. The black paper is a spider web-by Stampin Up! Their Halloween paper from last year.

The stripped paper is by Three bugs in a rug-Seeing Stars collection. The star was a cuttlebug embossing die called decorative stars. The bkgd was done using Pebbles Pearlescent chalks, which adds a nice shimmer to the “night” sky! LOL!

Hit the Beach is next up-Release date is the 15th.

Itsy Bitsy Bikini

This was a quick card featuring the new summer set.

Patterned paper is by Memory Box-beach collection (how perfect!)

Catch a Wave

Ok Im bummed at how small this is! I overwrote the original-EEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK!

I used some PP by Flair Designs, and the beach themed one is unknown! The shark is by Flair as well. There are stickles on the wave layers (done with my CM cutter).

Now last but not least-

Falling for you-

This is a pillow box that is truly gorgeous IRL! I used pearl-ex to color it, and punched little leaves that were also done with pearl-ex. Ribbon is by American Crafts, and patterned paper is DCWV Fall Stack.

 Thanks for looking!

I actually have a ton I should be doing to prepare for my SIL wedding shower! Its Saturday. Oh well.

Here is some eye candy for now- WARNING! Super quick post!

 Flourished Thank you

 This card uses the Green Grass sets Flourishing and Card Greetings II. The paper is by Adornit-Friendship Hearts, and cardstock is by Prism in Razzleberry Med. More info here.

 This card was done using a $1 stamp I found at AC Moore. I also got the cool patterned paper there-no clue who makes it. I thought a blocking would be cool. For my Guy sentiment is by Lizzie Anne Designs-All Guy set. Ribbon is American Crafts.

 The next 3 Im re-posting a quick version cause for some reason with the SCS crash it got deleted! That sucks!

OK So card one I entered in a contest here. The challenge was use patterned paper from THREE DIFFERENT Companies.

Polka dots-Fancy Pants Birdie collection, Flower layer- Crossed Paths Friendship collection- Coral pattern  is KI Memories.

Stamp is from the $1 spot at AC Moore. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the flowers.

Card 2 & 3 use stamps by CactusPink called ? WildFlower. Not sure. Christine from All That Scraps will be ordering some I believe! Cross your fingers.

Im off. Alexa has Chemo ALL day tomorrow! Pray for her to not feel sick after. Its her spinal tap chemo and it hits her hard each time.

Enjoy your day!

AND thanks for reading. Dont miss your chance at MYTIME MAIL! Im lovin the funny stories you all have

It is a miracle! Not only do I now have my blog back (when SCS goes down my blog does too!) But I have FINALLY figured out how to make a Sketch in my Paint program! GO, LAUREN, GO, LAUREN….GO! GO! GO! GO! LMBO!

So I know this is late but its not my fault, here is the sketch!

OK so its not a fabulous job on it- but time was ticking. I have a ton to do over the next few days. All the info I had ready to go,got deleted, as did my SCS Pm’s so if you need something please re-contact me. That being said I had to re-do many things and dont have too much time.

I was SOOOO bombarded with emails from people DYING to know when my blog was going to be back up-I feel truly loved! LOL!

So here is my card for my sketch.

I didn‘t use an OLD sketch so figured we’d start a new! I do have another card to upload in a couple of days using this sketch as well, with a NEW Release set from My Favorite Things Stamps-so stay tuned. The 13th is its release date, so thats when I will post my sketch inspired creation. She actually has 2 sets ready to go that day, then another on the 15th! WAHOOOOO!

OK so the card-

I found some SUPER cute $1 stamps at Michaels that were irresistible! The Preggo Girl was one of them. Isnt she cute. This will be going to a friend of mine who I was meaning to send a YEAH! You did it-literally! LOL!

I stamper her on Blush Blossom and colored with Prismacolor Markers.

The Patterend Paper is from my LSS and I ahve NO CLUE who makes it-sorry!

So I used the cuttlebug mini embossing folders, on vellum cardstock for the accent WAHOO!!!

New Primas and brads for a little extra. Hope she likes it. Looks just like my friend!

I loved these new stamps SO much I decided to use my 3 faves as MYTIME MAIL!

All you have to do to enter is reply with a memorable story from either your pregnancy, birth, a baby moment-whatever!

If you dont have kids then you can respond with a funny story about YOU as a kid or a kid you know!

I will randomly select a winner on the 15th!

I would like to share a FAVORITE quote I heard recently that I think ANY mom can relate to

“I was a much better mother before I became one”

Isnt that hilarious! I think we can all relate! I would love to hear about things you said you’d never do BEFORE kids, that you have done!

Here are my stories-

Baby Story-

I was in Walmart, and a Greeter (old woman) complimented on how gorgeous Amber was. She added the slap to the face when she said ” What a gorgeous baby. Too bad you are covering her beautiful face with the disgusting sucker in her mouth (aka her binki). Im sure she’ll be oh so thankful for her buck teeth when she has braces in her teens”

I went postal on the woman. I was like “Hey who the H&#L asked your for your ____ing opinion. Do you even have children? and I went on to say many things about the woman that I am unable to type here. WOW! Totally hormonal moment.

I was a better mother before story-

I swore I would never feed my kids fast food, like McDonalds. Now I bribe them with it! LOL!

There are many things on that list let me tell you.

Ok now its your turn.

OK – HONEST opinions on my new banner! Do you like it or not?

I made it myself-literally! I stamped some images like you would a card and did some serious cropping and what not. I think its pretty cool. Im just so freakin proud of my self! “I” Lauren Meader figured it out! Its a miralce. I could do another on I was just playin with the idea. Just seeing if I could actually make my own.

I actually had another banner I wanted to do-seen here

AmyR sent me a link to this color website. Its basically a website of color combos. I saw this image and wanted it.  Anyway I emailed them and asked permission to use the image and got NO RESPONSE! This is what it would have been.

 I changed my banner  cause my site has a blue/gray/black base (I cannot control that cause its the only one to allow a custom banner without major issues!)

Anyway since I figured out how to make a banner made with the pre-exixting image (above) I thought it would be cool to try making my own.

Not sure If I will make another-Ill see what everyone thinks. So be honest!

Should I

1- Keep my new banner

2- Go back to my old banner

3- Make a new one-again! LOL!

Thanks for the input!

There are times in a mother’s life that make the bad days worth while!

I had several this week, and thought I’d share. Sometimes we need to focus on the little things. I had an emotional week but looking at it in whole it was a good week, so far.

Here is my angel

We have had some MAJOR scary thunderstorms. Amber was very scared to go to bed and kept getting up out of bed. When Jason and I went to go to bed we found her asleep on the stairs with the light on in the hallway. She even took her precious purple flower purse with her. (NOTE: My Stairs look awful OMG! I am so painting them this weekend! I swear my house isnt filthy! LOL! I thought about photoshop editing them-oh well it is what it is, right.)

Doesn’t she seriously look like an angel? Her blonde ringlets and cute puckered lip’s. This is heaven. To me. I will miss this I know. She is my “baby” and the thought of her cuteness growing up KILLS me. I would freeze her at this age if I could.

Our second thought was “Oh no! Imagine if she had fallen down the stairs!” YIKES.

Next photo is Alexa. I cannot tell you how much each day of her life has always meant to me. Since conception I have fought for this child. When she smiles like this it makes every tear, and battle worth it all. I would give me life for her health and happiness. She sees the world in a way I only wish to. She is the picture of strength. She is everything I hope to be.

She LOVES the park. This was taken on her class Field day.

She looks just like her biological father. SOMETIMES I see me. Just in her FIRE. She is a fighter. I like to think that is from me. Her hair grows then falls out again. I am so used to it I forget why people are staring-sometimes.

I hope God gives us a million more of these days.

Here is my little guy.

He had a t-ball game this past Saturday and did awesome. He was happy and played with the team without complaint! At the end he jumped up and down saying “I was AWESOME today!” LOL!

In this photo he was on 1st base, and he was tipping his head so I could get a proud mommy moment caught on camera.

He was very well behaved this week.

Now that is always nice. He can be the most amazing kid. He is SO much like me. I dont know if its a good thing or not! LOL! We clash alot because of that I think. I hope he grows into a man like his father. Some girl would be very lucky someday! He is so sensitive, and loving at times. I believe he will do so much with his life.

All in all the week has been good.

Alexa’s counts are low so we are praying those get better, but in all I am just thankful for my life. I am very blessed with all I have. I know people may think otherwise, but its things like what have happened in my life that really allows you to appreciate SO MUCH more than I would normally have.

With Alexa’s health issues every milestone has always been a huge blessing.

 Anyway, I figured Id share my good days, since I am always willing to share the not so good.

I would love to hear about a good thing that happned to YOU this week. Did you get new goodies, have someone say something nice? Whatever. Even the whole “my kids got along for 2 hours!” LOL! Lets hear it!

OH BOY! Hold onto your wallets everyone!

Have you checked out www.allthatscraps.com lately? Go to new products at the bottom if you want to see it ALL!

Paper, punches, stamps OH MY!!!

She has gotten in a TON of new products!

She now has the PRISM paper that I have been in love with for a few months, and is selling it in a sample pack too if you want ALL the colors for a FAB-U-LICIOUS price. I bought 2!

Bazzill cardstock-new colors and textures, and my favorite the BLING!

Stamps!!!! She carries ALL the My Favorite Things stamps, has the new Gel-a-tins, and Gina K (ordered all the new ones myself), and is going to be carrying Lizzie Anne Designs soon too.

She has the Marvy punches, with the strong arm! Check those out.

Ink! Oh man she is now carrying the versmagic, and Pallette Hyrid ink in the large pad and SPOTS! She also had the Fantasix brushes I love, the NEW! Prismacolor pencil colors, oh boy.

PRIMAS! Need I say more?

May Arts ribbon OH! I could just get it all!

 Dont get me started on Patterned Paper! All the new DCWV, KI memories, Piggy Tales and K &co to name a few.

OK I need to take a deep breath! Just go look. Tell her I sent ya! She has wicked fast shipping too! PLUS FREE shipping on orders over $25. HELLO!

You can get all your faves in ONE place. Have it on your door in just days. How cool.

I cannot wait till my goodies arrive.

So COOL-

I made these a little while ago. Haven’t had any MYTIME in a few days. Bridal Shower obligations. So thought it would be a perfect time to share these.

Anyway, I love these funky designs. They are from the Holy Tomoli set.

I also LOVE the CM Wavy paper cutter. It is a must have for me.

I made the “waves” on the You’re Cool card using it. They were then touched with some stickles. I used this image as a little Jelly Fish. I love it. I love the simplicity of it too. Great KID card.

The paper is by Memory Box Beach collection. I got it at a stamp expo and NEED more!

 Hi-

I was playing around with the mouse and cheese image. While creating this, in my head popped the “How you doin” (Joey from friends voice). And that was what I thought that little mouse was thinking when it saw the cheese! LOL! Is that “cheesy” OK Enough I know! LOL!

Anyway……….Just havin fun with these designs. I had the clear tag from JoAnn’s $1 spot FOREVER and decided to use it. The mouse has some bling on the nose.

Paper is also Memory Box the Sugar (?) colletcion which it paper to DIE for! LOVE it!

So I hope these hold you over till later or tomorrow. I have some fun things I hope to share with you all.

Thanks for checkin in-

La Fleur De Leis

This is as french as its gets (my title that is)! Heck it may not even be spelled right! LOL!

Colors-Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Burgundy, Mello Moss and copper tones.

I love this set by Lizzie Anne called Jolies Fleur. I know you are probably thinking how many cards can you possibly make? Well ALOT! Isnt that the point. We buy stamps to get our mileage out of them. I plan on inking this OLD! LOL!

As you’ve noticed I cant put this particular set down. This card started with this paper by American Crafts in Rosemary from their Ala Mose Collection. SO AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS.

It is actually a pink patterned paper, with the pattern in brown. I took my Prismacolor markers and colored the paper! NOW, Its like a whole new patterned paper!

After it was colored I pulled out my Jolies Fleur. I stamped it in a versamagic ink injumbo java. Then with the same Prismacolor markers, colored in the bloom. I then used my Making Memories tag maker, for the copper tag.

I had to add some glitter so, with my Martha Stewart glue pen (superior to the SU one for sure) I traced the places I wanted my bling-then sprinkled my dazzling diamonds-which I actually prefer to the Martha Stewart crystal type glitter.

 Sentiment is stamped in copper ink and is from the Simply Sentiments set. The Hodge podge hardware was dipped in copper ink. The brad was colored with a sharpie marker!

Ribbon is by May Arts.

I promise new samples with other sets! LOL!

Like this one-

Shore do Wish

I think this is the BOMB! Sorry, I just do!

Colors-Choc. Chip, Certain Celery, Blush Blossom

 Stamp set is called Shore Thoughts. I LOVE this set. SO whimsical and elegant all at the same time.

I love the colors. How the brown makes the rest just POP! I also LOVE all the sparkle this card has.

This was yet another reject. That means yeah I get to keep it!

Again, I made my own tag. Colored star fish with versamagic ink and fantastix brush.

Added some glitter from Martha Stewart, on star fish, and along bottom. Not to mention some much needed bling.

The ribbon is from Michaels. Ive had it FOREVER!

Hope you like the eye candy.

See you tomorrow!

I absolutely love this Trio of cards I’m posting today! Brown and pale blues are a favrotie combo of mine. When I first saw Bordering Blue I thought EW! BORING! But the more I worked with it I grew to LOVE it.

Flutterflower

This was the first card that I did when I realized the Paisley from Jolies Fleur was indeed a GORGEOUS butterfly. SADLY this card was a submission reject! What is wrong with these people? LOL!

I stamped the butterfly with my Glue pad. Sprinkled my Martha Stewart Blue Topaz glitter. Adhered a jewel in the flower center.

I then made the flutter trial by using an Onare  piercing template. Obviously I LOVE this tool. I can’t NOT use it. I’m bad at free handing anything. Seriously I can’t even doodle a descent WHIMSICAL border! THAT people is why I stamp! I have no creative abilities if it involves ME being the artist.

The card base was done using Martha Stewart’s cardstock in like a pale green. The gorgeous inspiration came from the K&co Amy Butler designer paper, and Fabric brads. I thought the brads balanced the design, and made the butterfly look like it were going towards them.

The sentiment is from Au Naturale. Stamped with the versamagic Aegean Blue ink. PERFECT match!

The ribbon is also Martha Stewart. I think I have about every color in this type of ribbon now-

 I swear Im going to email her! I have so much money invested in her products! I got a project accepted for publication using them and when its published in December I’m hoping to get a kickback! LOL!

Now we come to out next design

Popped Pearlescent Fleur

I absolutely love my Pebbles Shimmer Pearlescent Chalk. I LOVE making colors POP on a dark color. I found you achieve the best results doing POPPIN PASTELS if you use WHITE craft ink or WHITE StazOn (rather than versamark) cause it gives the color something to hold onto.

I was reminded of this technique when I saw the tutorial on SCS (listed above).

Since purchasing both sets of the pearlescent chalks I haven’t touched my regular SU! ones. I LOVE shimmer-if you read this blog or check my work at all I think its MORE than obvious! LOL!

So I stamped my flowers from Jolies Fleur, along the right side, and POPPED them with my pearlescent chalks. SO PRETTY! The outter petals are done in a darker shade then the smaller petals (more apparent IRL). Of course the bling by K & co finishes it off. This is a very simple ALL OCCASION card.

I tied on the same MS ribbon, then made the focal image pop on the white layer. The layer is my bordering blue cardstock by SU!

 Pattern of inspiration-

I got this paper at a LSS. It was what inspired my card JUST above it. Isn’t it fabulous! Unfortunately I have NO CLUE who makes it, as there was only the one sheet.

Pretty much the same idea as above. Flower is popped with my pearlescent chalks.

The twill ribbon is-you guessed it Martha Stewart.

I hope you enjoyed my trio.

I  want to know what technique you LOVE but NEGLECT to do as often as you use to. I’d like to randomly select one and feature a card using YOUR favorite technique.

So please REPLY!

Have a great Sunday. We are off to do something with the kids.

WOW all the responses have been SOOOOO helpful. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! SERIOSULY!

I asked you all for opinions on the card I should choose for my SIL bridal shower invites and I was so happy to get your feedback.

Looks like most of the recommendations are for #2. The one with patterned paper. So, I went to the craft store, and ya know what NO PAPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im now wondering if I got it at a stamp expo! OH gosh whats a girl to do.

OMG! I was a Rage-ing maniac! TYRING to find a place to order it. I have no clue. Its by American Crafts Ala Carte collection in Baguette. Im so upset.

So Now I will have no choice but to go with #1. I love that one so its ok. I just got the idea set that I would use #2! I am however going to add their initials behind the love sentiment. Everyone seems to agree its awesome! AND I think I found an amazing ribbon too.

I also hope to soon share in favors for the shower and whatnot. AND my center piece ideas (dont ask cause I dont know yet) The favors I am doing chocolate flower molds and stamping clear boxes with the flower on the card in the carribean color with the love sentiment and their initals on the tags tied around the clear boxes. So each box with have several colored chocolate flowers. I think they will look really pretty.

We still arent sure WHERE its being held! I left a message at our town community center and need to hear back-so I cant do anything till the place is booked. WHY? Because they cardstock goes through the printer FIRST! EEEK! Time is ticking.

PLUS I dont even have the invitation list yet.

OH man wedding nightmares here I come. Im not in the wedding and this is totally stressin me.

 MORE HELP NEEDED!

OK People you are invaluable to me. I am donating my time at the Relay for Life in our area on June 23rd from 7pm-10pm (if you live in the area and want to help call me!). This is a huge event for Cancer research/support for everyone affected.

Anyway-I was asked to do a stamping project with people who attend. Who ever participates.

When I did the Walk for Breast Cancer I did book markers and people could choose a variety of stamps all that worked well with the same colors (pink and greens) anyway…….

 WHAT ON EARTH SHOULD I DO?

It has to be something that people dont need much direction for and can do quickly.

I think Im too into WOW factor stuff to think simple. Ya know like the first time you saw embossing, then you forget about it for a while!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was thinking, Hershey candy bar wrapper (that could get ugly though) Luggage name tags, um that it! LOL! I really do not know!

So if YOU were attending an event what would be a cool thing to do using stamps as a keepsake?

Oh Another thought how about a wishing stone/magnet/ They could stamp a word or image, then stick it under a flat marble and attach a magnet? Is that LAME?????

OK I am really thinking out loud here.

If you are still reading-thanks! Im boring myself.

Well Check in tomorrow Im featuring 3 cards using Hue’s of Blue. They are LOVELY. And yes-its all using Lizzie Anne sets-I just cant help it, and it hasnt been a week yet! 2 more days of Lizzie Anne (at least! LOL!) I really love the new sets. Can ya tell?

Have a good night.