Whirlpool of Imagination

Celebration Car

Right now I'm working on a picture frame but since I have lost daylight to photograph it, I sat down and made a card in the same colors.

The frame is painted almost the same color as the cardstock and I used this great striped paper by Rob and Bob to decorate it. I have to say, I always gravitate towards stripes when I used patterned paper - I am forever buying more and more stripes!

The car is from TAC and the block is edged with a paint pen before matted on the red. The sentiment is from Spunky Stamps and the scan didn't really pick it up, but the card base is stamped in canvas. I started with the base blank but boy, it really looked blank! So I did some quick background work and there ya go. Tomorrow I hope to get out the camera and snap a pic of the frame. I think it came out pretty cute.

I survived!

Well, I made it through Conor's party. I was exhausted last night!! Today, I spent my little bit of studio time working on simple Scooby Doo thank you cards. I'm really hoping for some fun studio time tomorrow night. Tonight I'm going to surf some blogs and check out everyone else's great creations!

Color Inspiration

Last Friday night Mo and I went out to dinner at this great little Thai restaurant in town. As I was sitting there relaxing I noticed the color scheme of the decor. It was burgundy, cream and black. Those colors looked great together so I decided to make a note and try a card with those colors. This card design is basically taken from a set made by the wonderfully talented Ethel.

I really like this stamp. I'm not always sure what I want to do with it but it seemed to go nicely with what I had planned (again, thanks to Ethel who inspired this). I believe the stamp is from Stamp Francisco.

Well, the glitter glue has dried on the favor bags. Tonight I fill them for the party tomorrow. We had a minor emergency when we thought we wouldn't be able to get the Scooby Doo cake design - Conor has had his heart set on that for the last three weeks. Luckily, it's a go so he should be really excited tomorrow. I doubt I will get into the studio tomorrow but I may need the stress relief in the midst of final party preparations. Night!

Freeze, I've been tagged!

In all the time that I've been blogging, I've never been tagged. Some people don't like to participate in tags but it has certainly been fun learning about all those fun bloggers that I check in with. I certainly don't have a problem with the concept. If people don't tag me, I'm not heartbroken and now, thanks to Susan, I get a chance to share more about myself too.

This is the tag asking for 7 THINGS ABOUT ME so here goes:

1) My mom named me after a soap opera character.

2) My mom was born in Tipperary, Ireland; my mother in law was born in the Aran Islands (Ireland) and my father in law was born in County Kerry, Ireland. Our family is just a wee bit Irish! My first trip over "the pond" was when I was 9 months old.

3) Ironically enough, I named Meg after a soap opera character.Conor is named after a character in a book.

4) I started teaching aerobics at 17 and taught for 14 years. Back when I first started, there was no such thing as step aerobics. That was invented by Gin Miller after she went through knee rehab. I took a master class from her in Texas when it still wasn't a type of "aerobics".

5) I went to grad school at Clemson University. Go Tigers!

6) When my mom was a teenager she went to live with her sister in England. Her friend at the time was dating Paul McCartney and she hung out with the Beatles all the time before they made it big. At one time she had an early album signed by all of them - somewhere along the way my grandmother threw it out- bummer as that would have been some kind of collectible!

7) I started stamping when I was in grad school. My friend at the time, Kristi Sikora (now a superstar with Cropper Hopper) introduced me to the hobby. Now, thousands of stamps later, I still love it!

Now it's my turn to do some tagging (no worries if you don't do tags - I'm just sending people to check out your fine blogs):

1) KH - a die hard Ohio State fan who is brilliant with coloring and shading with colored pencils. I so want to be able to color like that.

2) Debbi - this is a different tag - Debbi is an army mom and I'm working with her for my Cards for Troops donations - check our her info - such a great way to use the cards you make.

3) Kerry - if you want some great sketches, check her out.

4) Erin - Erin has the funnest blog - I love checking out her new creations.

5) Alison - she's been tagged already but whether you want some great cards, info on blog tutorials or need to know who's giving out blog candy, you can get it all here.

6) Lisa - gorgeous brilliant creations - need I say more???

7) Debbie - fun cards with great directions, especially if you like Just Johanna

Well, that's it. My studio tables are covered with bags with glitter glue names on them that need to dry before Conor's party on Friday. What are the odds that I can keep him away from them tomorrow so they don't smudge?????

A Revamped Card

I've got my week long spring craft fair coming up in about 6 weeks so I've been taking inventory to see what I've currently got in stock. The original of this next card is down to just one in stock so I figured since I needed to make more, I'd tweak it just a teeny bit.

This originally had a plain background which looked fine but well, a little plain. I love this textured harlequin, use it for everything. After reading Nicole's blog entry on distressing with stamps, I think next time I'll add another background to the harlequin, maybe a script.

The background is from Cornish Heritage, sentiment from Paper Inspirations (I think) and the tree from Stampin' Up.. I stippled a bit of color on the tree - love doing that - so quick and easy.

I made a some of these that say "Thinking of You" for my Cards for Troops donation. This tree set is so versatile - one of my favorites for all purpose cards.

I think I've been spending a bit too much time on the computer - my wrist has been sore all day. So I'm going to catch up on my Dancing with the Stars and try to watch American Idol too. Night!

More Cat's Pajamas

I couldn't put this little cat away, especially since he fits soooooo well in the Doodlebug frame, so here's another.

This is my flood card for the week (it's my Stamp Shack weekly swap). The sentiment is from TAC and I cuttlebugged the background again. This came together soooo easily. I'm using this cat and frame combo for everything - love it!!!

Cat's Pajamas

Since I mistakenly identified the sentiment a couple of days ago (should have been Cat's Pajamas, not Purple Onion), I figured I'd highlight one of the classic Cat's Pajamas stamps. Yep, the cat.

I like this cat, so much attitude and lots of fun. He also inks up really well which can be a concern with a solid stamp.

The hat is from CTMH and frame is from Doodlebug and I need to check on the sentiment. The hat and frame are colored with a prismacolor marker and the background is cuttlebugged (I use my Wizard though, don't have a CB).

I may a bit of stickles to his collar to spiffy him up a bit.

Gorgeous day here so I'm off to enjoy it!

My new Cards for Troops program!

As some of you may know, I sell my cards through a variety of ways. Now I'd like to give back a little bit. I have been in contact with Debbi and will now be helping out with her Cards for Troops program.

Every card bought from me to be earmarked for donation to the troops will receive a 20% discount. Whether you choose the designs or tell me to is up to you. All my designs can be found at my Picture Trail site. Our soldiers need all occasion cards ~ birthday, hello, get well, sympathy, anniversary, thinking of you, friend, you get the picture.

AND DURING THE MONTH OF MAY.......for every card bought through Paper Creations by Laura (whether for the troops or for your own personal use), I will donate a card to the Cards for Troops program. I'm hoping to be able to send Debbi a huge box of cards!

Doodlebugging!

Have you seen the newest clear stamps from Doodlebug? They are very cutesie, but if that is your thing (and I can appreciate a really cute stamp), you will love them. They are clear acrylic stamps which is fine by me because I love the whole unmounted thing anyway. I looked around trying to find them and eventually was able to order from Paper Cents. I've never ordered from them before but there was good communication (the stamps were backordered) and I received the stamps in a timely manner so I was pleased with this online store.

The scanner did not do too good. The pick is actually matted onto a white card base but the scanner cut part of it off. The frame and presents are from Doodlebug and the sentiment is from Purple Onion. The presents are colored with my Prismacolor markers. I know many stampers make those little corners but the SU ticket punch. Since I didn't have that, I used a part of a small circle stamp and carefully just tried to make them all the same size.

The rain has finally stopped - let's hope that means spring is right around the corner.

ETA: The sentiment stamp is actually from Cat's Pajamas, NOT Purple Onion.

For Mom

I think I see a break in the raindrops!! It was another rainy, damp day here. I think by tomorrow we actually might venture outside! I tried some more tea bag folding. I love the final look of these designs. I still have some practice to do to get my folds really good but I find the folding kind of relaxing.

The fold I used is the most basic of folds ~ making a kite with the pieces of paper. I think one of the most important things I need to remember is to make the tightest of squares with my cuts as possible and the folds will be all even.

I also used my UHU glue stick to adhere the folds to themselves - I found this to be the easiest adhesive to use and is strong enough to keep the folds intact.

I honestly am not sure where the paper for the tiles came from. On Circle of Crafters, many of the experienced tea bag folders have generously made dozens of tile designs and graciously allow others to use them. I need to figure out a system to keep track of them all!

The stamp used for the sentiment is from Spunky Stamps and the flower has a crystal in the center (it looks cute there and hides any unevenness ~ LOL).

The mat behind the flower is actually garden green although it looks black in the scan. I wanted something that would pick up the green in the paper. There are a ton of other folds I need to learn but I think this technique could be a lot of fun.