the creative closet by cindy lawrence

Wonderful Girl

Hey Stampers!

Thank you all sooo much for your heart-felt comments and e-mails regarding yesterday's post.  I feel just like I got a great big {hug}!  Y'all made me CRY again! :)

Since I just returned from my trip to Florida, went right back to work the next day, and have been frantically preparing for an overnight retreat (Stamping Around New England) that I am teaching at tomorrow...I didn't stamp anything new for you again!   I do have a sample that you probably haven't seen yet, though.  It's another one of my Artisan Award submissions.  That's my sweet Abbi in the photo.

All supplies are from Stampin' Up.  No supply list again today...sorry.  I am off to bed with my swollen ankles (why does that keep happening???), to get a gooood 4 hours sleep before I have to get back up again. 

My goal for today...be thankful in ALL things!  God is good.  Oh, yes He is!

Have a fabulous Friday, friends!

Hugs~
Cindy

A Perfect Day for Apples

Hey everyone~

Happy Labor Day to fellow Americans! :)  In honor of apple-picking season, I thought I'd share this scrapbook page that I made.  It's another one of my Artisan Award submissions for SU.  Apple picking is a big deal here in New Hampshire in the fall.  Our family visits an apple orchard that has over 50 apple varieties...yumm!  It also happens to be an incredibly beautiful place to visit.  As you can see, I have gotten some terrific photos there! 

I'm short on time today; so I'll skip an actual recipe for the page.  I will tell you that all supplies are Stampin' Up.  It's hard to tell in the photo; but the chipboard letters were polka-dotted with a white gel pen and then covered in Crystal Effects to make them shiny.  The apple "brads" in the top corner are actually rub-ons that have been punched out with a 1/2" circle punch and popped up on Dimensionals...easy peasy. :)

That's all from me today, folks!  We spent last night in Chattanooga, TN and are driving back to Virginia today. 

Have a fantastic day!

See you all tomorrow!

Hugs~
C

Sing a Song

Howdy folks!

Well, how about that?  I have a scrapbook page for you today!  I don't scrapbook NEARLY enough; but I really enjoy it when I do.  It brings me such joy...I don't know why I don't do it more often.

This is a bit of an unusual layout for me; but I was having fun experimenting.  The photo is my sweet Abbi girl doing her favorite thing in the whole wide world...singing. :)  She has a lovely voice, and we keep saying we're going to get her some voice lessons...gotta do that one of these days.  She would love it!

The background on the page is simply designer paper from Stampin' Up's brand-new Urban Oasis designer paper pack.  I added lots of chipboard and the tiniest bit of stamping.  All of those little hearts on the circle and the "with love" in the bottom corner are from the Yummy SAB set (if you can believe that).

To make the chipboard letters and flower shiny, I coated them with Crystal Effects.

Yesterday turned out to be a rather unproductive day...just was feeling very blah.  I really hate those days, don't you?!  I'm hoping for a more energized (and therefore more productive) day today! :)

Have a good one, my friends!

See you tomorrow!

Hugs~
C

Life Is Good

Hey everyone~

Today I have a couple of Stampin' Up samples for you.  I have more CHA pictures; but I'm just tooooo tired to load 'em up today.  I will have some for you tomorrow though!

This first sample is made with SU's new Good Friend stamp set.  It's a little funkier than I usually do; but I had a goal to use all of the stamps in the set, and these images seem to lend themselves well to some funkiness. :)

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Good Friend

Papers:  Whisper White, Basic Gray, Sahara Sand, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Designer Paper

Inks:  Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Sahara Sand

Accessories:  1-3/8" Circle Punch, Kiwi & Baja Striped Grosgrain, Dimensionals

This next sample is a 6x6 scrapbook page of my daughter, Abbi, when we were in Panama.  It's a super-simple page that anyone can do.

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Good Friend

Papers:  Basic Gray, Whisper White, Designer Paper

Inks:  Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray

Accessories:  Word Window Punch, Kiwi Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Kiwi Designer Buttons, Rub-Ons

Okay, that's all folks!  I am completely worn out, but having a truly fabulous time at CHA!  I had my picture taken with Jane Seymour today...can't wait to share that one with you!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

See y'all back here tomorrow morning

Hugs~
C

New Stampin' Up! Sneak Peek!

Happy Monday, friends!

Today is the very first day you can place an order from the brand-new Stampin' Up Spring/Summer 2009 Catalog!!!  There are some really  great new products in this catalog!

I have a couple of samples to share with you from the Good Friend stamp set.  I will admit that it's not my favorite set in the world (I much prefer detailed outline images).  However, I was able to make a few projects with it that I am pleased with. :)

 

For this card, I not only used the new Good Friend set; but I also used the brand-new Delicate Dots designer papers...so pretty!

Here is the recipe:

Stamps:  A Good Friend, Fundamental Phrases

Inks:  Bashful Blue, So Saffron

Papers:  Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Delicated Dots Designer Series Papers

Accessories:  Soft Subtles Buttons, Linen Thread, Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Piercing Tools, White Gel Pen, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals 

 

For this next card, I went with more of a girlie look, using some more brand-new designer paper.  This paper pack is called Bella Birds...how appropriate, right? :)

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Good Friend

Inks:  So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette

Papers:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Bella Birds Designer Series Papers

Accessories:  Wide Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge Dauber, Crystal Effects, 1/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" & 1-3/8" Square Punches, Dimensionals 

 

This is a very simple 6x6 scrapbook page of my sweet daughter, Abbi.  I wanted her picture to take center stage; so I added very little else to the page.

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Good Friend

Inks:  Pacific Point

Papers:  Pacific Point, Whisper White, Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper (more new paper!)

Accessories:  Filigree Brads, Ice Rhinestone Circle Brads, A Perfect Day Rub-Ons

 

This is the last project for today.  It's a little basket box, made from a template that I found on a blog long ago...and cannot remember for the life of me where I got the pattern.  So, if you know...please do share, so I can give proper credit!  It showcases another pattern from the Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper, and one that obviously works very well with the Good Friend stamp set!

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Good Friend

Inks:  Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip

Papers:  Whisper White, Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper, paper shred

Accessories:  Stitched Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Pacific Point Striped Grosgrain, Sponge Dauber, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals

I hope you've enjoyed today's little sneak peek into the new SU catalog!  It'll go live at 2pm est TODAY!  I need to narrow down my wishlist...for sure!

Have a wonderful Monday!  ...AND Happy Martin Luther King Day to you all!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs~
C

Authentic...

Hey everyone!

Here's another scrapbook page of my little sweetie.  This one's a 12x12 page, and uses the new Flight of the Butterfly set from SU. 

For those of you who scrapbook, you know exactly what I mean when I say how incredibly fulfilling it is to complete a page!  I don't know why I don't do more of it, because I LOVE it!  I am going to make it a goal to do at least one two-page spread every month starting in September.  I know to some of you that sounds ridiculously easy; but for me it's a step in the right direction.  I tend to make cards all the time, and only scrapbook when I have to.  I'm sure part of the reason is because it takes me like an hour to make every page right now.  As I do it more often, I hope that I will get a wee bit faster.  Practice makes perfect, as they say. :)

Here's the recipe for this page:

Stamps:  Flight of the Butterfly, Small Monogram "A", Jumbo Outline Alphabet

Inks:  VersaMark Pad, Not Quite Navy Classic Pad, White Craft Pad

Papers:  Pink Pirouette & Whisper White Textured Cardstock, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose Cardstock

Accessories:  White Gel Pen, Rub-Ons, Rose, Celery, and White Grosgrain Ribbon, Crystal Clear EP, 3/4" Circle Punch, Wide Celery Ribbon, Dimensionals

Well, we didn't end up going to Six Flags yesterday after all....cuz the weather guys don't have a CLUE!  It turned out to be a chilly, rainy day; so we postponed that trip until Friday, which promises to be hot and sunny....we shall see.  We spent the afternoon bowling, which we haven't done in a really long time.  Ben's girlfriend joined us, and we all went out for dinner afterwards.  So, all was not lost....we had a great time anyway! :)

Tonight we're having a bonfire and camping in the backyard.  The kids are sooo excited!  S'mores...here we come...YUMM!!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

Thanks for stopping by!

Love,
~C

A Cutie Patootie and an Award

Good Sunday mornin' to ya!

It's shaping up to be a gorgeous day.  Our family always takes this coming week as a vacation week, and it has never disappointed us weather-wise.  After all of the rain we've been getting here in NH, we're looking forward to some sunshiney days before the kiddos go back to school next week.

This is a 6x6 scrapbook page that I made for the Convention displays.  I have used this photo of my daughter on a scrapbook page before, but I love it so much I had to use it again. :)

This was a super-fast page to put together.  The only thing that took any time was cutting out the flowers.  It's difficult to see in the photo; but I used some white rub-ons on the Pink Pirouette card stock right under the taffeta ribbon.  To distress the top edge of the Celery card stock, I used SU's Cutter Kit.

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Inspired By Nature

Inks:  VersaMark, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery

Papers:  Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Accessories:  Piercing Tools, White Gel Pen, Rub-Ons, Half-Back Pearls from Pretties Kit, Cutter Kit, Pink Taffeta Ribbon

I also wanted to say THANK YOU to those of you who have nominated my blog for awards over the last few weeks!  I have been so preoccupied with Convention and getting ready for my Dirty Dozen reveal, that I haven't had a chance to respond to any of them.  My good friend, Diana Gibbs, just nominated me for a fun award.  Check it out:

Isn't that the cutest award?  I've never seen this one before.

Here are the award rules:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated.

Here are my nominations:

Amy Sheffer (PickleTree) at Pickled Paper Designs - this month's other new Splitcoast Dirty Dozen designer, who has the most incredible eye for design...phenomenal!

Denise Marzek (peanutbee) at The Paper Landscaper - another fellow DD member, who's work is simply OUTSTANDING!

Jerrie Jiminez (Jerri Kay) at A Touch of Grace - Jerrie has a brand-new blog that you really must check out!  Her watercoloring is among the finest I have ever seen!  She blows me away!

Michelle Woerner (sf9erfan) at Stop and Stamp the Roses -  Michelle's blog is also fairly new, and is already full of fantastic, gorgeous samples!  She is just incredible!

Okay, that is not 7...but it's a good start for ya!  There are a lot of truly fabulous blogs listed on my sidebar!  Get yourself a cup o' jo and check 'em out!

Have a very blessed Sunday!

Love,
~C

Cherish...

Hey everyone~

Isn't this such a funny picture?  I really shy away from scrapbooking pictures of myself; but this one just makes me smile.  It was taken on a beautiful beach in Bermuda in April.  We were trying to get a good "kiss" shot (don't ask), and we just couldn't stop laughing.  We had such a lovely time that day riding around the island on our scooters with our friends, Tina & Jim.  It was just a beautiful, fun day...good memories all around.

Here is the recipe for the page:

Stamps:  Eastern Blooms, Flight of the Butterfly, Small Monogram "C"

Inks:  VersaMark, White Craft, Printer Ink

Papers:  Sahara Sand, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, White Textured

Accessories:  Cherished Rub-Ons, White Gel Pen, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4", 1" and 1/4" Circle Punches, Pretties Kit flower, Fire Rhinestone Brads, Piercing Tools, Floral Frenzy Brass Template, Corner Rounder, Dimensionals, On Board Lots of Letters Chipboard

Here's hoping for lots more spontaneous laughter in all of our futures!!  I know there will be some serious GLEE happening around here today when my box of new SU goodies arrives!  I am SO not going to be able to function until it gets here... :)

Have a happy day today...and do something productive for me! haha

See ya tomorrow!

Love,
~C

Scrappin' the Kiddos

Happy Friday, folks!

I re-read my post header, and thought, hmm...."Scrappin' the Kiddos"....kinda sounds like I'm throwing them away, huh?!  Hah!  No, sillies...although there are days when I wouldn't mind a little quiet time...I think I'll keep 'em! :)

This photo was taken back in 2002; but it worked so well with the butterfly stamps that I had to use it.  That's my Nick, who's now 11, at the Butterfly Place getting a closer look at an orange butterfly.  He was and still is to this day, so very good with all creatures great and small.  He just loves bugs and animals!

I made this page for the display samples at Convention.  I really like these colors together...kinda happened on them by accident.  I love happy accidents, don't you?!  I mean, as opposed to UNhappy accidents...like the kind that make you have to change your clothes... oh my, too much information!

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Flight of the Butterfly

Inks:  VersaMark, Basic Black

Papers:  Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Baja Breeze

Accessories:  Anchored Rub-Ons, Boho Blossoms Punch, Saffron Brads, Black Journaling Pen

Here's another page done with the new Tangerine Tango cardstock.  It's amazing how different it looks, depending on which colors you put with it.

This picture was taken of Abbi this spring, right before she got her hair cut short.  I need to get a scrapbook page done of her since she's had it cut...it's so stinkin' cute!

Here's the page recipe:

Stamps:  Eastern Blooms

Inks:  VersaMark, Craft White, Night of Navy (for felt flower)

Papers:  Tangerine Tango, Night of Navy, Whisper White

Accessories:  Flower Fusion Felt Flower (dyed), Fire Rhinestone Circle Brad, Crimper (leaves), Boho Blossoms Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch (to make border), Floral Frenzy Brass Template, White Gel Pen, Cherished Memories Rub-Ons, Dimensionals

It's Friday again...where does the time go!?  I am looking forward to another fun summer weekend with the fam!  I hope you are too!

Thanks for stopping in!

Love,
~C

freckles...

Hello my stamping friends!

I am starting to feel human again after our whirlwind week at Convention and a red-eye flight home on Sunday morning.  Oh, what fun we had!  I have some great new stamping ideas, which I look forward to sharing with you all over the coming weeks.

I also have lots of samples to share with you, since I had the privilege of being one of SU's display stampers for this event.

This scrapbook page was one of my favorites.  I actually took those three pictures of my daughter, Abbi, because we were trying to get a good shot without her squinting from the sun.  As it turned out, I loved the squinty pictures just as much, and it made me think of just how stinkin' cute her freckles are.  So....that's where the title came from.  I have freckles too, and remember hating them as a child.  I am always telling Abbi just how blessed she is that God chose to give HER freckles! :)

Here is the supply list for the page:

Stamps:  Inspired by Nature

Inks:  Craft White, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip

Papers:  Apricot Appeal Textured, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White

Accessories:  On Board Chipboard Lots of Letters, White Embossing Powder, White Gel Pen, Stampin' Sponge, computer-generated journaling

Don't you just love that new coneflower stamp?  I think I will be reaching for that one a lot!

Have a terrific Tuesday everyone!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Love,
~C