Hi! We are back!

I have gotten SO MANY emails. Pm’s and wonderful news I don’t know where to begin! So I have alot to do over the next few days!

Let me start by saying that I have dedicated a entire page to Alexa’s Disney Make-A-Wish. I chose some photos and memories to share so I hope you enjoy reading them! We had an AMAZING time! So feel free to read it and share your thoughts if any.

I also have to reply to the new thread started for Alexa’s pretend stamping friends, for chat. That way those of you who subscribe to the Prayers won’t don’t worry everytime there is a posting (thanks Tracey for starting that). It “may” get moved from what I hear. If you cannot access it its because its in demo chat.

I came home to new goodies!!! That means more things to work with and share with you. Some of my work has to be exclusive to the places I design for so I hope you will look for them!

I came home to see I also have 3 publications in print!

First one is “Ruff Day” in Paper Made Easy (I’m in the beginning on page 5! JUST so close to the cover!!) and its featured on page 52!

 It has all the instructions are in there so I won’t repeat it! LOL! I made this bone template myself-cute eh?

On page 66 you can see my Enjoy your birthday card!

I’m also featured in The Rubber Stamper page 21 in the Collage section!

I have also recieved some MORE great news.

Many of you noticed that I was asked to be on the Design Team of Lizzie Anne! Be on the look out, as my biography will be there soon. I do have some samples posted there in the gallery as well.

 I am also working with Kim from My Favorite Things stamps. She is just amazing! So watch for her stuff as well.

While I was gone I applied to be on a design team for Green Grass Stamps, and guess what-I’m in!!! YIPEE! I am so excited! I am living my dream! Gotta get a biography to them as well.

Now I better get creating for them. What a great way to end a vacation right?

Thanks for letting me share my news with you.

Gotta get to work. Did you all see the Dirty Dozen creations this month? Pretty amazing stuff. Go check it out!

I made 2 more samples with Alexa’s set. They were done to be sent out with the contest. I wanted to make a Thank You, and a Hi one.

This one, the Thank You is for Tracey-

I love pink and black, and wanted to use the butterfly from Alexa’s set. I used Pebbles pearlescent pastels to color the butterfly. I then filled in the hearts with liquid pearls. Such a cool item I rarely use. Gives it that extra dimension and shimmer. They are hard for me to get an “even” distribution when you squeeze it out, so I think I need to practice more! LOL!

I then used my Sakura glitter pen to draw the flutter trail.

Had to use my Sprite Prima’s!

The ribbon is from Jody’s ribbon share.

The circle with the flower and thank you sentiment is Lizzie Anne Designs Funky Floral.

Cardstock is by SU!- basic black, whisper white, pretty in pink. As are the black/pink brads.

This was the other one I did

This inspiration was from the decorative chipboard I had from K & co. Its called Anastasia’s Attic. I wanted to have sparkly flowers and leaves just like the chipboard. So I used my Funky Floral (again) and used heat & stick powder with some old retired SU! Glitter. The jewels in the center are by Heidi Swap.

The base is also a retired SU color- mauve mist. I layered Perfect Plum. They are similar in layout. I wanted the HI to be the focus of the card. I hope she likes it. I did this right before we left for Disney and time was not on my side. There are things I would do differently but Oh well. At least I got it done.

Thanks for looking-

So/ making these plastic “luggage” tags are HOT right now! Mine aren’t just for “fun” they are going to serve an important purpose! On the back of these tags I included vital info for each child. So they are my Ident-a Kid tags. I also have these plastic cards we had taken at the police station with their photos, info and fingerprints.

It has their name, DOB, ALLERGIES, height and weight, our names & cell numbers, hotel we are staying in, our address and doctors #’s. Alexa has a little more info as you can imagine, but its all important if someone found her and there was an emergency!

They will clip on the kids clothing. They will be in plain sight just in case the child forgets. I think you would want to look at it if you found a lost child.

 We have told our kids if you get lost, and can’t find us, find a Disney Character and show them your tag. Now I know there are personnel all through the park, and once we see what these people wear we will also take note. At my kids ages I think they will more easily remember to find a Disney character than a person. Especially Alexa who WILL NOT talk to anyone!

I got mine at Walmart- 12pk for $1. Im hoping we won’t need them for anything! But its better to be safe than sorry! My mom thinks there is too much info! What if someone kidnaps them! Well heaven forbid, but I really want every opportunity to be listed if they get lost to be found. Mothers!!!!

This place is HUGE, and although we have a one adult to one child ratio it can be crowded and things can happen. I know I probably sound insane, but Ive learned YOU can be THAT person!

Now about the tags-

Here is Alexa’s

She of course had to have her Alexa set and use the Groovy girlby MissyB Designs!!! I used Rhapsody designer paper by 3 bugs in a rug, Cardstock is SU! whisper white, orchid, Caribbean, and certain celery. The alpha’s on all the monograms are by Cuttlebug Red Tag alpha. My sakura glitter pen outline’s them for some “bling” Ribbon is by CardMaker.

Now here is Noah’s

I got the Buzz Light Year stamp at Michaels. Used the image on the stamp to figure out the colors! Red, gable green, and Lilac.

And here is Amber’s

She wanted Mickey and Minnie Mouse. This is a foam mount stamp from a set also bought at Michaels. Colored with markers. She chose the pink & black! She’s a natural I tell ya!

Thanks for looking!

Here is our Saturday Sketch!

I hope you have time to play this week. I told you I was going to share some of my sketches I have in my sketchbook each week, to help inspire you! There are NO rules just have fun. You will see by the original sketch, that I changed it a bit. The point is to get inspired, and get stamping!!!

Here is yet another card with my Funky Floral by Lizzy Anne . I am just lovin this line. I wanted simple, yet have some texture. The flowers are a bit “stitched” looking so that was my starting point. The awesome texture on the artichoke layer was achieved using  the weave bkgd by Cornish Heritage Farms! Its a really cool bkgd, and gives every paper that POP!

I also love this Heidi Grace double sided designer paper called Mushroom. I got that at eP. Gave me the cool combo of cameo coral, always artichoke, pumpkin pie, and pixie pink.

FOR A DOUBLE CHALLEGE try out those colors!! They really are fresh, and earthy, yet the pixie makes it scream spring!!

Supplies

Lizzie Anne Funky Floral, Cornish Heritage Farms weave bkgd

Cardstock-Sahara sand, whisper white, always artichoke, cameo coral

Ink- cameo coral, always artichoke, pumpkin pie, pixie pink, barely banana

Accessories

1 1/4 circle punch, singlo white gel pen, paper piecer, matt pack, ribbon by May Arts.

So I may “check in later” to show what I am making my kids today in case they get lost!!! Or add a post over the next few days! We will see I have a superlong to do list. If I get access in Disney then its a go!!!!! I hope you’ll check in while I’m gone. I will post some MYTIME MAIL from Disney when I get back if I’m over 10,000 hits!!!!

Pray we have a safe trip.

By random computer drawing # 86 Kathy Tice!

Kathy writes……

Hi Lauren!

My favorite color is pink – all shades!

My favorite color to use while stamping (lately, anyway!) is Cool Caribbean.

My favorite embellishment is ribbon, and glitter and anything cuttlebugged are a close second.

As far as your blog – anything you put on it I love! Keep it coming! I love your cards, so keep that up. Any techniques you have to show would be great, too!

Kathy please send me your address so I can mail off your card, Sprite Prima’s and stamp set!

I have really enjoyed reading about all my readers! You are all so fun for playing along. Im going to have to do more of these. I’m almost at 10,000 views! So when that happens it will be time for more Mytime Mail!!!

I love seeing all your answers, as I do read EVERY comment left.

I hope you will tune in tomorrow for the Sketch challenge! Cross your fingers I have interent access while we are gone to Disney as I will be updating on our trip!! We are now all packed. I hope to get a little stamping in tomorrow!

Have a nice night.

What is better than chocolate? Well this surprise box showed up on my door today, and would be hard to beat!

SIX of the most amazing MONDO size, chocolate covered strawberries, and SIX chocolate covered apples! Can you believe it?! I couldn’t.

So again what’s better than chocolate? MY FRIENDS!!!!

My friend Tracey from SCS (cuccicoo1002) sent this to me.Well I guess for the whole family, but I feel like its all mine!

Here I am diving in! I already had 3 pieces! YIKES! I think Tracey wants me to gain all her pregnancy weight for her. I’m starting vacation early, and all my clothes won’t fit if this keeps up!

Don’t worry I did share!

 Here is Jay shoving the whole thing in his mouth! What a waste! You are suppose to SAVOUR it!

While we were getting silly for the camera look who dove in

 See the look! If I dont look at them maybe they won’t notice! LOL! I think Alexa has claimed the rest of the Strawberries!

Tracey you are just SO SWEET! Sweeter than these delicious chocolate pieces for heaven. Im so happy we have become friends. You are just amazing to me, and I am so not deserving of all this! And you did without even seeing the amazing thing Im making for your sweet little bundle of (boy) I mean baby! LOL! Now I don’t know if I can wait to send it to you!!!

I have met SO many wonderful people through SCS! You wouldn’t even believe it! I have so many of you who feel like my family. You’ve all adopted me & my family, and I can never give enough thanks to you all.

While Im sharing here is a nice blurry photo of the kids after receiving some goodies from my friend Sarah (aka sarahstampart)

 Here is Alexa with Caroline’s Card! Caroline is only 10 and drew an amazing Cinderella and Snow White on the card for Alexa. Inside yet, another amazing drawing of Mickey & Minnie mouse! Alexa about fell she was jumping up & down.

Here are the kids holding the goodies- They were so excited. Sarah even included some AWESOME BIG primas! How do you all do it? You all have so much going on but take the time to do so much for me. I am in awe. I am just so thankful to have all of the people I have come to know in my life. Big cyber hugs. What I am going to do without you all for a week!!! OMG! I dont even know. Stay tuned cause 6pm is the announcement for MYTIME MAIL. Tracey’s gift inspired a card. So I must get in one before I leave-

Love ya all!!!

I am overwhelmed with all the PM’s, comments and letters of encouragement. So I am going to give away one of my favorite new embellishments- PRIMA SPRITE’s in Pink!!!!!

My card made using a Sprite, and Whiskers , and a set of acrylic stamps from Michaels!

All you have to do is leave a comment about the following-

What is your favorite color?

What is your favorite color to use when stamping?

What is your favorite embellishment/why?

What would you like to see on my blog?

I will have a random person selected Friday night 6pm eastern time. Make sure you check back so you can send me your address if you won! I have to pop it in the mail on Saturday cause we are leaving for Florida!

Here are my answers!

My favorite color is purple.

My favorite colors for stamping are anything with Chocolate Chip (real chocolate is a big fave too)

Favorite embellishment is ribbon and primas of course.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

BTW to keep up to date on my blog, you can subscribe! And to see past tutorials/other fun info check my category box. There are all kinds of listings. You may see something that interests you! Love to get your feedback, so comment when you can 😀

Oh I am just lovin this new company. I ordered 3 of their sets the other day after seeing their banner ad on SCS. I’m a sucker for stamps! Shipping was fast. Service excellent.

 They sell their sets un-mounted deep etched  rubber. They cling to the acrylic blocks, and have a cute Jewel case they store in. I’m really lovin the unmounted sets lately cause my craft room is overflowing! This leaves me alot more room to buy more.

So I whipped up some cool cards the other day, and posted them here and on my gallery @ SCS.

  Here is what I did yesterday! There is ONE more but I am saving that for tomorrow’s sketch challenge!

Funky Flower

I just got this Funky Floral set with my order from Lizzie Anne Designs. You can NEVER have enough flowers IMO!

The paper is New! by Heidi Grace called Mushrooms (double sided)-from eP . I used it to inspire my collection of color. Which I must say is pretty cool!

Cameo Coral, Always Artichoke, Pumkin Pie, Pixie Pink! Would you have EVER put those color together? Not me. But I was so happy with the results. Wait till you see tomorrows. I hope you try this color combo. Maybe that will be another day challenge! HMMMMM.

I stamped the flower twice, cutting out the cameo layer. The brads are velvet covered by MM anthology (also from eP). I had to do some stitching cause the flower is a stitched style. Wanted to showcase both sides of the patterned paper so I did! I embossed the thank you sentiment in white. Im so into circles lately. I think the top tie’s are so fun, and complete the look. I just scored a 1/2 inch from the top, popped out some 3/4 circles, and here ya go.

White can sometime be stark. This has just the right balance.

You’re the Cat’s Meow!

This one uses the Celebrations II set by Lizzie Anne. Make sure you check out their gallery! You will see me amongst the other great stuff there.

I love the Au Chocolat paper by SU! I just got this paw punch at Target by EK Success, so I HAD to use it!

So, I was unsure where I wanted this to go. I kept thinking Halloween, but didn’t want to go that route. All I knew was I wanted lots of paw prints! LOL! That is where the strip of prints comes in. The cat is on dimensionals. I stamped it on glossy white-for a little more “pop” IRL. I used the corner rounder (corner guard removed) for my scalloped border. Very simple layout.

I needed a cat sentiment so I dusted off my Cool Cat set by SU!

Hope you like it. I hope to try out some of the other stamps in this set, but this one was my favorite (along with the sun, sandals, gift…you get the idea!)

Tell me what you think.

Well people have been dying to see where all my creative time is spent, so here it is! Don’t mind the mess it was along day of stamping he! he! Plus when your workspace is only about 10 x 6 you can only CRAM so much in.

You all know I’m a shop-a-holic, so now you get to see how bad it really is. I have only been addicted for 3 years. I am definitely outgrowing my space.

So the top photo is the view from the door. My area in an semi-unfinished area in our basement at the bottom of the cellar stairs. I do have heat, and a mini heater for those chilly months.

Its not much but its mine! I use to have NO MYTIME SPACE, but a large bin that I would drag out to stamp at the kitchen table. Holy creative blocker. Its hard to get crafty doing that. So DH spent a weekend for Christmas making me my very own space. I love it.

While it looks messy its actually pretty well organized.

I have 2 ink caddy’s. One for craft, the other for classic ink. On top of the caddy’s I have stickles, 2 way glue, and other little things like that. On my desk I have a clear stackablecontainer with blender pens, embossing powder, tags, and all kinds of other stuff. I also have my reinkers, and other stuff like embossing powders, pearl ex, envelopes and whatnot in a closed 2 door cabinet.

My ribbon is in like 50 containers! LOL! SU are in the SU ribbon holders, but the others are in tupperware type holders that stack.

All my stamps are on my open shelves, organized by bkgds, sentiments, kid, all occasions, and flowers etc. If it retired, a mini catalog, or discontinued it goes in a separate shelf so I can keep track.

I have my super paper holder, which are organized by colors like blues, greens and what not. Designer paper is under the my counter, in paper storage holders.  I have a big ol scrap container on my desk in the corner. Its out of control full again, so I need to go reorganize it. I do have it seperated by blues, green,s and what not! (you can see the retired sets and stuff stored there too)

Under my desk is my SU! Business stuff. Soon that will be gone. I also have a huge bin of MUST HAVE alterable items! LOL!

On my counter I have my sizzix and cuttlebug stuff. That needs to be within reach at ALL times!

On the walls I have cheap fabric shoe holders from Target! 2 for $1.50!!!! Theystore my ATG gun, color spritzer, label maker, sponges, rubber brayer, dimesionals, all kinds if stuff. I have another that hold my crimper, crop a dile, metal sheets, other fun items. AND one more that holds all my punches!

Now there is the wire crate organizer. That holds more NON su stamps like my acrylic ones from all my favorite companies, alterables, more SU business stuff, my xyron 900, light table, shrinky dinks machine, PRIMAS!!!! Stuff like that!

WHEW! Well thats it. Its not glamorous and goreous like alot of the toip stampers rooms, but its my space and it serves it purpose! The kids can’t touch my stuff, and I can create and make my mess with out worry.

 Stay tuned tomorrow so I can share some fun goodies I made today! I will also be announcing the winner of MYTIME MAIL!!!!

Thanks so much to EVERYONE who has purchased Alexa’s stamp set! It means so much to us. I am thankful for all of you who participated as well. If you don’t have it, and want it go here

www.missybdesigns.com

So lets get the winners listed.

Kayla gets an honorable mention and will receive her goody when we return from Disney 😀

here is her card! Alexa has something special she would like to send her.

Alexa had a very DIFFICULT time deciding! ALL winners must email me their mailing address. I will go to the post office Saturday!

After an agonizing 1 1/2 hours, and making sure of her choices ,the winners were decided by Alexa, and confirmed by Nana Meader.

While she loved them allthis was continuously her #1 pick.

https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=514074&si=alexa

So yeah! You win a $10 gift certificate to eP! Send me your email so I can email you the gift certificate!

Second place winner for the tote bag with the “believe in miracles” stamp

https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=513589&si=alexa

Third Place Place-winner for the 5 assorted acrylic stamps is this one

https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=510748&si=alexa

Comments made by Alexa-

1st place was Oh my gosh look at me! I love the pretty box, and crown. Im such a pretty princess. Lots of pretty colors.

2nd place was Oh my god! GROOVY GIRLS. I love all the flowers, and pretty colors.

3rd place was Thats my pretty dress. I love my dress. Its so pretty.

Alexa loved seeing all her cards! Amber argued about some of her decisions! LOL! But it was Alexa’s choice.

 Thanks again for palying and helping fill tha gellery with samples!