the creative closet by cindy lawrence

April is a Promise...

Happy weekend, friends!

Well, it's official...Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has a brand-new bunch of goodies available in the store!  The set I used to make today's card is one of my faves!  I used a sketch from Taylored Expressions that I think is just so cool.  I love finding great sketches, don't you?  It makes pulling your card together a snap!

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Papers:  Pure Luxury White, Cameo Coral, Pink Pirouette, Nana's Nursery Designer Papers from DCWV

Inks:  Palette Hybrid Noir Black, Copic Sketch Markers

Accessories:  White Brads, Circle Nestabilities, White Gel Pen, White Organza Ribbon from SU (dyed with Copic marker), Dimensionals

I also wanted to let you all know that we have a winner of the Elegant Blessings blog candy from Thursday's post! 

Here's the info:

...and the winner is....

True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 134 Result: 62

Comment # 62 was....


That is one classy card!

Sincerely,
Sonja

Posted by: Sonja | February 26, 2009 at 05:19 PM

CONGRATS SONJA!!!

I am still sore from my snow tubing adventures (which kinda cracks me up, really); but I've got a full weekend...so the show must go on. :)  I'm off to do a card class for some of my favorite peeps this morning...should be fun!

Have a terrific weekend, everyone!  ...and stay out of trouble (like snow tubing & such)! ;)

Hugs~
C

Flourishes Friday!

Happy, happy Friday, everyone!

We had SUCH fun snow tubing yesterday!  I think I kept up with the kids pretty well too, I might add. :)  The only problem is that I'm paying for it now.  I've actually been having "mystery" knee and leg pain for several days now (no idea what I did), and this little adventure didn't help that situation any.  In fact, I have whopping bruises on my thighs...I mean, like my thighs are almost entirely black and blue.  It seems a bit extreme to me; but I guess it's just another sign that I'm not 20 years old anymore...   My body keeps trying to convince my mind of that; but I refuse to listen! :)  

Today's card was made for Flourishes Friday (like you couldn't tell that from the title of my post).  Every Friday on the Flourishes Newsletter, the design team will take turns showcasing our favorite tips and techniques.   This week it's Laura's turn, and she's focusing on coloring with Twinkling H2O's.  Check out the Newsletter for her tutorial.

I have quite a few colors of Twinks; but I often forget about them.  So, I was really glad to pull 'em out again!  I love the gorgeous shimmer they offer!  I used three different shades on the tulips and two on the leaves.  I applied the color with my trusty water brush...what would I do without that thing?!

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Thank-You

Papers:  Pure Luxury White, Basic Black, Ambrosia Designer Paper from Basic Grey

Inks:  Palette Hybrid Noir Black, Twinkling H2O's - Yellow Rose, Orange Peel, Persimmon, Moss Green, & Olive Vine

Accessories:  Black Satin Ribbon, Mark Richards Black Square Crystal Stickers, Oval Nestabilities, H2O Brush, Dimensionals

Check out what the other Flourishes Designers have done:

• Christine Okken
• Faith Hofrichter
• Jan Marie Caruso
• Julie Koerber
  
• Latisha Yoast
• Laura Fredrickson
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan

Enjoy your Friday, folks!  We are gonna lay low today, since Mom is an invalid...haha.  Abbi and I need to work on a hat for "hat day" at school on Monday anyway, which is just about the right speed for me today.

See y'all tomorrow!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs~
C

Sneak Peek and a Little Somethin' Somethin'...

Hello my sweet friends!

It's blog hop time for the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps design team!  You know what that means, right?  Yup, it means there's a brand-new release coming up this Friday evening, complete with super-fun release par-TAY! :)

My sample is made using the lovely and versatile new Elegant Blessings set.  Sadly, it seems that I have had more need for sympathy cards this year than ever before.  Happily, this set really fits the bill...elegant, yet understated.  It would make perfect Easter cards, or for any occasion when an encouraging word is needed.  For my card, I began with neutral colors, and added Tim Holtz grungeboard & Mark Richards crystals for added elegance.  The final touch is Crystal Effects on the cross and grungeboard for a bit of shine.  I will be turning to this set again and again, I am quite certain.

Here's the full recipe:

Stamps:  Elegant Blessings

Papers:  Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Urban Oasis Designer Paper (SU)

Inks:  Palette Hybrid Noir Black, Black Journaling Pen (faux stitching)

Accessories:  Tim Holtz Grungeboard, Mark Richards Crystal Stickers, Wide Oval Punch, Piercing Tools, Valet Ribbon Originals (SU), Crystal Effects, Dimensionals

If this is your first stop on the blog hop, you should hop on over to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog and start from the beginning.  The girls have some awesome sneak peeks for your viewing pleasure!  From here, you'll head to Sandy's blog. :)

Oh, goodness, before I forget...

I have a FREE set for you today!!!!  Yes, you read that RIGHT!  If you leave me a comment here on this post, you'll be automatically entered into a drawing for the Elegant Blessings set!  I will post the winner's name at the Release Party in the SNSS FORUM.  Be sure and stop by the party on Friday night between 9pm and midnight EST!

Have a lovely Thursday, friends!  We are off to do some tubing at a local ski area...fun, fun!

See y'all tomorrow!

Hugs~
C

Friends make life more beautiful.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

So, how are ya on this fine Wednesday?  We are enjoying the kids school vacation week...can't believe it's half over already!  Today, we're baking cookies and snuggling up with a new movies.  Have you seen the Madagascar movies?  We just got the second one, which we originally saw at our local drive-in theater this summer (yes, we still have one of those here!).  I LOVE the old lady in this one!  She is one tough broad...I mean, she does beat up a lion!  "Bad kitty!" hee hee  Okay, probably most adults have no clue what I'm talking about...but, seriously, friends, I don't care what age you are, these are funny movies! :)

Okay, so on with the card up there...  What do you think?  I think I love it!  I know, I know...you're not supposed to say that about your own card!  Here's the thing, though... I have a bit of an aversion to solid style stamps.  They scare me!  I often struggle with them, and truthfully, this one was no exception.  We didn't get along very well for a little bit; but in the end I beat the little bugger! :) 

Anyway, all of that to say...I'm really happy with the way this card turned out!  Can you see the pattern on the flowers?  That is made using the "kissing" technique, which is this week's technique focus over on StampTV.  The fabulous Gina K has a brand new video up today which takes you step-by-step through this fun technique.  Hop on over there and check it out!

Here's the recipe for today's sample:

Stamps:  Elegant Flowers (words), Bold Flowers - both sets from the Floral Frenzy StampTV Kit

Papers:  Pure Luxury White and Chocolate Kiss, Cameo Coral (SU), Neapolitan Digi Paper

Inks:  Cameo Coral, Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories:  Chocolate Flower Buttons (SU), Linen Thread, Sponge Dauber, Word Window Punch, Chocolate Trim Ribbon (Making Memories), Chocolate Cording (Floral Frenzy Kit), Textured Textile CuttleBug Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

I do hope you'll stop over and visit us at the StampTV site.  We have daily challenges complete with fabulous prizes, Gina's awesome video tutorials, a rapidly growing gallery, and so much more!

Off to bake some cookies!  Have a truly lovely day, everyone!

Hugs~
C

Fake it 'til you make it!

Hey everyone!

I've decided that in regards to winter and wondering if we'll ever see spring....I'm gonna go with the "Fake it 'til you make it!" motto.  If I keep making springy cards, maybe it'll hurry on up and get here already! :)

This card is made with Whipper Snapper's brand new Whimsical Giraffe image, which I think is just about as darling a stamp as I've ever seen!  I colored it in with Copic markers, added a few layers, ribbon and flowers, and that is it...easy peasy!

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Whimsical Giraffe

Papers:  White (not sure which white, but it's one that's good with Copics), Apricot Appeal, Tangerine Tango

Inks:  Black InkJet printer ink, Copic Sketch Markers

Accessories:  Tangerine Tango Striped Grosgrain, Prima Flowers, Apricot Appeal Button, Linen Thread

Our two youngest kiddos have this week off from school; so we have a few fun things planned to do together.  Today, however, I need to go into the hubby's office for a bit and help him out.  Nick will be Dad's helper and Abbi will be mine...should be fun! :)

Have a lovely Tuesday, friends!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs~
C

A New Challenge!

Happy Monday, friends!

I have a new challenge to share with you!  In case you missed it, Gina K Designs has a new site called StampTV!  It's a super-fun place to hang out, share samples, watch awesome video tutorials, and participate in creative challenges!

Today is the first official challenge, and I am the hostess...lucky me, huh!?  Every day of the week on StampTV there will be a new challenge, and Mondays are devoted to color challenges.  This week's challenge is Always Artichoke, Apricot Appeal, and Pumpkin Pie.  You have one full week to participate in the challenge, and a random prize drawing is done at the end!  Hop on over to StampTV for the challenge details. 

Many of the supplies used for my sample came from Gina's first-ever StampTV Kit, called Floral Frenzy.  It's full of fabulous stuff, like stamp sets, ribbons, brads, flowers, and papers!

Here's the recipe for my card:

Stamps:  Elegant Flowers from Floral Frenzy StampTV Kit

Papers:   Pure Luxury White (kit), Artichoke Textured Prism Paper (kit), Pumpkin Pie (SU), Digital Papers (kit)

Inks:  Always Artichoke, Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Word Window Punch, Mark Richards Crystal Stickers, Sponge, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Grosgrain Ribbon (kit), Dimensionals

I also wanted to share some good news with you all.  Remember, the other day when I mentioned that my son, Ben, was playing in his basketball tournament, and that we were really hoping they won, since it was his senior year???  Well.....they DID!!!  It is the first time in something like 20 years that Ben's school has won the State Championship...AND it's the first time that the "other" school has lost a State Champoinship in many years!  So, it was a really big deal!  What a game it was, too....they were ahead by 15 at one point in the game; but it didn't last long.  It came down to DOUBLE OVERTIME, and TWO points!  The winning basket was scored with 10 seconds left on the clock!  We really thought we were headed for a third overtime; but ShinHo, our Korean son (as we affectionately call him),  sunk the winning basket!  I had absolutely NO VOICE left after that game! :)

Here's a shot of the 2009 State Champs:

My son, Ben, is the second from the left and ShinHo (who stays with us on breaks) is the one holding the trophy. 

Here are the starters, most of whom played the entire game:

...and here are the MVP's for the season (along with the scoreboard in the background):

Yup...that's Ben in the middle! :)  We are sooo proud of him...and ALL of them for that matter.  They are an outstanding group of young men!

In two weeks, they head off to Regionals.  We have no idea what to expect; but I'm sure it will be a fun time for sure!

Okay, that's all from me today, folks.  Thanks for humoring a very proud mama! :)

See y'all back here tomorrow!

Hugs~
C

Be Still and Know

Happy weekend, friends!

We are off to spend the day at my son, Ben's, basketball tournament.  They won game one of the tournament last night...yeah!  Ben is a senior this year; so we're all hoping extra hard that they win it all this year.  Ben is a fantastic player, and has been on the varsity team at his school since 7th grade.  If my memory serves me correctly, they have come in second place every single year...often losing by a point or two in the final minutes.  It's time for this group of guys to take home the big win.  We shall see.  Either way, it's going to be a super-fun day for all of us! :)

Today's sample is made with Sweet 'n Sassy's Holiday Road stamp set.  This is actually a summer camping set; but I wanted to do something with just the trees that would work anytime.  The sentiment is from Be Still. 

This card actually took me a couple of DAYS to make, as I was constantly interrupted, and had to keep setting it aside.  So, I could have done more to it; but I finally just said...that's it...I'm DONE with it!  Time to move on....  How's that for good time-management? haha

Here's the recipe:

Stamps: Holiday Road, Be Still

Papers:  Pure Luxury White (Gina K), Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Infuse Designer Papers from Basic Grey

Inks:  Palette Hybrid Burnt Umber, Copic Markers

Accessories:  Crocheted Chocolate and Rose trim from Making Memories, Hodgepodge Hardware, Dimensionals

Okay, folks...that's all from me today!  Hope you enjoy your weekend IMMENSELY!

I will see you right back here on Monday morning with a fun challenge sample!

Hugs~
C

Flourishes Friday!

Happy Friday, friends!

Today's card was made for Flourishes Friday.  Every Friday on the Flourishes Newsletter, the design team will take turns to showcase our favorite tips and techniques.   This week, Julie Koerber steps up to the plate to show you one of her faves - colored pencils!  Check out the Newsletter for her tutorial.

Now, I must admit that I actually had to search for where I put my colored pencils, because I never ever use them!  I either watercolor with my ink pads and re-inkers or I use my Copic markers these days.  I have a very limited supply of pencils.  So I didn't find the exact shade of yellow that I would have liked for the daffodil; but, all in all, I am happy with the end result. 

Here's the supply list:

Stamps:  Signs of Spring

Papers:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Brandywine Designer Paper (new from Flourishes!), Watercolor Paper

Inks:  Palette Hybrid Burnt Umber, Old Olive, Pure Color Pencils (SU)

Accessories:  Gamsol, Blending Stump, Wide Ivory Satin Ribbon (Flourishes), Textured Textile CuttleBug Embossing Folder, Gold-Rimmed Pearl Brads, Dimensionals

Check out the other designers' samples today:

• Christine Okken
• Faith Hofrichter
• Julie Koerber
  
• Latisha Yoast
• Laura Fredrickson
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan

In other news...

In my continual quest for good time management skills, I had another one of those "moments" yesterday afternoon.  I was working on a card (not this one), and decided to research the particular flower I was working with to see what colors it came in.  So...I went to my computer (that box which has an evil grip on me) with the intent to look up the flowers.  Let me also remind you that my computer is IN my stamping studio...maybe 7 steps from where I sit and stamp...not a far walk at all by any standard, right?  Well, I got to my computer and saw that I had a few new e-mails...so I sat down and read them...which lead to checking out a website...which lead to another...which lead to checking out Facebook...which lead to...well, you get the idea!  Once again, I was sucked into the vortex of time and space called the INTERNET....ugh!  ...and do you think I remembered to look for the flower pictures?  Nope.  I didn't remember until I sat back down to stamp, and then it was ARRRRGHHHHH!  Will I ever be healed from this horrible affliction???  Is there any hope at all?  Some days I wonder...

Let's hope today I don't drive myself somewhere and forget why I'm there or who I am or something...sheesh!

Have a great one (and be careful out there)!

Hugs~
C

Exciting News from Gina K!!!

Hey everyone~

Gina K has something brand new and fabulous available beginning today: StampTV!  Yup, you read that right....TV!  This is a fantastic resource for watching Gina in action as she shares specific techniques and projects in gorgeous broadcast quality video tutorials!

With the coordinating "Floral Frenzy Stamp Kit" you literally can follow along and make the projects she creates on each Episode.  The kit includes stamps, paper, ribbon, embellishments and patterned paper!  The kit contents will vary with each launch, depending on the techniques Gina will feature; but this month, the kit contains two amazing stamp sets. 

Yesterday, I shared a quick sample with the Bold Flowers stamp set.  Today I have a card made with my favorite of the two sets, Elegant Flowers.  This is just a gorgeous, gorgeous set!


Not only are the images from the kit; but so is that luscious ribbon and designer paper!  When I opened the box containing this kit, I literally squealed out loud!  It is SUCH a fabulous kit!  I am completely in love with everything in it!!!

Oh gosh, I nearly forgot...that gorgeous ivory cardstock is new IVORY Pure Luxury!  Yup, you guessed it...that's in the kit too!  It comes in both base weight and layer weight, just like the white....yummmmm-EEE! :)

Gina has the link to the new site where you'll be able to watch the Stamp TV episodes and where all of us on the Design Team have been lurking secretly all week!  Gina and the Design Team will be hosting challenges Monday through Friday, and each challenge will have a chance at a free stamp set!!  Our challenges begin on Monday with a challenge from yours truly...so don't miss it! ;)  To get started, hop on over to Gina's blog!

Happy Hugs!

~C

Gina K Sneak Peek!

Hey everyone~

How are you today?  We are in a winter wonderland here, snowed almost all night; but I don't think we actually have very much on the ground.  The good news is...it's supposed to hit 40 degrees today.  So whatever is on the ground won't be here for too long. :)

The materials used to make todays card came from a special new product being launched tomorrow at Gina K. Designs!   Check out Gina's blog today and enter to win the "What's in the big brown box contest" and stop back tomorrow for the full reveal!  I'm so excited about it, and know you will be too!

The rest of the Gina K design team have some gorgeous sneak peeks for you today.  Stop by and check 'em out:

• Carolyn King
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Erika Martin
• Jessica Fick
• Joanne Basile
• Kurtis Amundson
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Theresa Momber

Once again, I want to say THANK YOU for all of your helpful and sympathetic e-mails and posts regarding my battle with good time management!!!  I haven't had a chance yet to thank you all individually; but I sooo appreciate your thoughts!  You are keeping me from falling off the wagon, friends! :)

Big happy hugs to all of you!

~C