the creative closet by cindy lawrence

My Little Chickadee

Happy last day of June, friends!

Today is my final day on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps design team.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my six months on the team.  Korin is an absolute doll, and it has been an honor and a blessing to work with her and her images. :)

For my farewell sample, I chose to make a card with the very first Sweet 'n Sassy set I ever purchased.  I think this little chickadee image is just the sweetest thing.  I also used my new Classic Frameability and Labels Four Nestability dies.  I love all of these fancy-schmancy dies Spellbinders keeps coming out with, don't you?!  I cut the Frameability die cut in half to make it fit nicely behind the other die-cuts.  I love how it turned out!

Here's the full card recipe:

Stamps: My Little Chickadee

Paper: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Bella Birds Designer Paper, So Saffron Textured, Watercolor

Ink: Black Staz-On, So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Night of Navy

Accessories: Prima Flowers, Flat-back Pearls, Ninji Water Brush, White Crocheted Lace, White Satin Jacquard Ribbon, Lables Four Nestabilities, Classic Frameabilities, Sewing Machine, Dimensionals

I chose my colors for this week's Color Challenge over on SCS.  This week's hostess, Kelly (schirmcat), asked me to be her "wing woman" for the challenge.  In other words, would I make a sample ahead of time?  She just didn't know how literally I was gonna take the whole "wing" woman thing...haha! :)

I also wanted to share a card I made for the SCS Dirty Dozen gallery back in October of 2008.  It was the first card I made with this set. 

If you'd like more deets on this card, stop by SCS and check out the October 2008 Fan Club Gallery.  You have to be a member to view the gallery.

Now, there are a few other fabulous design team members who are bidding farewell to Sweet 'n Sassy today.  You really must stop by their blogs and check out their awesome samples, beginning first at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog, of course!

Faith Hofrichter
Deb Felts
Lorie Ames

Have a wonderful Tuesday, everyone!  We managed to get swimming lessons in yesterday morning before the downpour.  Let's hope we can do it again today!

Oh, and here's a hint for tomorrow...

Repeat after me... Copic tutorial.

'Nuff said! ;)

See ya tomorrow!

Hugs~
C

Let Your Dreams Soar!

Happy Thursday, friends!

Just a quick post for today.  I made this sample for yesterday's sketch challenge on SCS.  Those gorgeous butterflies are from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I embossed them with ultra-thick embossing powder and sprinkled some glitter on for a little extra zing.  I love how they came out!

Stamps: In His Time, Summer Sentiments, Dream Silhouettes (tiny butterflies)

Paper: Pure Luxury White, Basic Black, Black Orchid Designer Papers (SEI)

Ink: Soft Sky, Memento Black, Copic Markers, VersaMark

Accessories: Black Detail Embossing Powder, Glassy Glaze Embossing Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Black Velvet Brads, Black Stitiched Grosgrain (PTI), Piercing Tools, Dimensionals

Okay, that's all from me today, folks!  I've got a busy day ahead of me. :)

Have a fabulous day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs~
C

Lead Me in Thy Truth

Happy Monday, friends!

Today I have a sample made with a gorgeous new stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.   It's called Light of the World, and was illustrated by the fabulous Chris Dickinson.  This set will be available to order tomorrow! :)

Here's the full recipe:

Stamps:  Light of the World

Papers:  Whisper White, River Rock, Watercolor, K & Co Vintage Designer Paper

Inks:  Palette Hybrid Noir Black, Bordering Blue, Soft Sky, Going Gray, Basic Gray, River Rock, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Old Olive

Accessories:  Antique Brass Brads, Clip, & Mini Library Clip, Ninji Waterbrush, Spring Moss Stitched Ribbon (PTI), Crystal Effects, Dimensionals

Stop by the Sweet 'n Sassy blog to see the Round Up of awesome samples from the design team!

Hope today is a fantastic start to your week!

Hugs~
C

Home Sweet Home Part 2

Hey friends~

Did you enjoy your weekend?  I sure hope so! :)

One of my faithful readers brought it to my attention that she is getting an "operation aborted" pop up message when she logs on to my blog.  She says it's only been happening for a few days.  Are any of the rest of you having that same problem?    Would you jot me a quick e-mail to let me know if it is?  Or just leave a comment on this post.  Thanks a million!

Today's card is another one made with Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Home Sweet Home set.  I just had to make one with the house.  It's such a sweet and welcoming little house, isn't it?

Here's the full recipe:

Stamps:  Home Sweet Home, Spring Scenes (moon)

Papers:  Pure Luxury White, Core'dinations Elements

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Paris Dusk, Copic Markers

Accessories:  Martha Stewart Fence Border Punch, White Brads, Strano Striped Ribbon (dyed the bottom with G99 Copic Marker), Crystal Effects

That's all from me today, folks!  I have soooo much to get done today.  I have classes here in my studio tomorrow morning and evening, and I need to finishe prepping, shopping and cleaning today.  I'll share the class projects with you all over the next couple of weeks.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Hugs~
C

Home Sweet Home

Hello on a Sunday!

I hope you are having a fabulous weekend!  We are enjoying a weekend of sunshine, baseball, fireworks, and barbeque...doesn't get any better than this! :)

I made this fun and easy sample for this week's sketch challenge over on SCS.  I love the simplicity of it!  I used Home Sweet Home from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, and colored the image in with my Copics.

Here's the recipe:

Stamps: Home Sweet Home

Paper: Pure Luxury White, Chocolate Chip, Sugared DP (Basic Grey)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Copic Markers

Accessories: Label Nestabilities, Gold Bling, Chocolate Twill Ribbon, Dimensionals

Here's a photo of the inside of the card:

Have a very blessed Sunday, friends!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs~
C

Birthday Smiles

Happy Tuesday Wednesday, everyone!

Are you as confused about which day it is as I am?  Whenever there's a Monday holiday, it always throws me off for a week.  Now, I'm not complaining, mind you...I just think perhaps it would be easier on us if EVERY Monday were a holiday!  Such a simple solution, isn't it?! :)

Today is day one of Sweet 'n Sassy's monthly blog hop.  I made my card using the Birthday Fun set.  I needed a birthday card for this weekend anyway; so this was a perfect choice.  I'm not sure you can see it in the photo, but the balloons are covered in Crystal Effects to make them all nice and shiny.

Here's the full recipe:

Stamps:  Birthday Fun, Doodle Flowers (sentiment)

Papers:  Pure Luxury White, Basic Black, Black Orchid Designer Papers (SEI)

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Certainly Celery, Copic Markers

Accessories:  Crystal Effects, Black Satin Ribbon, Prima Flowers, Felt Brad, White Brads, Small Oval Punch, 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 Ceal''s blog.

Have a WONDERFUL day today, my friends!  We are getting some rain today, which is just perfect timing for all of those gardens that were planted this weekend. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs~
C

Hello Weekend!

Happy Memorial Day weekend, friends!

Today is the big day... Ben graduates from high school this morning at 10am.  Sigh...he's all grown up now.  At 6' 4" tall, I do believe he's actually finished growing!  This afternoon we have a few parties to attend, and then our party for Ben is tomorrow afternoon.  It's gonna be a party, parTAY kind of weekend.  The weather is promising to be just beautiful....yahoo!!! 

Today's sample is made with Sweet 'n Sassy's Doodle Flowers stamp set.  I paired it with some Black Orchid SEI designer papers for an eye-popping, happy card! :)  I stamped the vines on the green background paper, and dyed the ric rac to match with my YR09 Copic marker. 

I do love to have some generic cards on hand, cuz you never know when you're gonna need one.

Here's the recipe:

Stamps: Doodle Flowers

Paper: Pure Luxury White, Basic Black, Black Orchid Designer Papers from SEI

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers (YR02, YR09, BG10, YG01)

Accessories: Orange Rhinestones, Tangerine Striped Grosgrain, Pumpkin Wide Ric Rac (dyed to match card with YR09 Copic Marker), Small Oval Punch, 1/8" Circle Punch, Dimensionals

Hope you enjoy the long weekend!  I'll be back on Monday with a new post.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I am sooo glad you do!

Hugs~
C

Make Lemonade!

Happy weekend, friends!

I made today's sample for Sweet 'n Sassy's monthly Round Up.  I used both the Summer Fun & Summer Sentiments stamp sets.  They are perfectly complimentary and SO versatile.  The possibilities are endless!

Here's the recipe for my card:

Stamps:  Summer Fun, Summer Sentiments

Papers:  Pure Luxury White, So Saffron, Madeline Designer Papers (K & Co)

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black, So Saffron, Copic Markers (RV00, Y00, Y21)

Accessories:  Prima Flower, So Saffron Button, Linen Thread, Sponge Dauber, Crystal Effects, Mini Library Clips, SUmmer Sunrise Twill Ribbon (PTI), Dimensionals

Here's a view of the inside of the card:

Tonight is PROM NIGHT for Ben!  So exciting! :)  Sigh... my baby is all grown up!  In just one week he'll be graduating from high school...WOW!  How does that happen?!  We have Baccalaureate on Sunday...He has his senior banquet on Thursday, an honors and awards ceremony on Friday, graduation on Saturday, and his big BASH on Sunday...phew!  This is gonna be one emotional week, I can see that!  His momma is gonna be a picture-taking FOOL! :)  I am going to savor every last joyful minute of it! 

Have a lovely weekend, friends!

Hugs~
C

Waddle I do without you?

Hello, my sweet stamping friends!

Today I have a fun sample made with Sweet 'n Sassy's Pond Pals stamp set.  I just adore the cute little ducky in this set, and can think of so many uses for it.  I chose to use the "Waddle I do without you?" sentiment, which I thought would be perfect for a grown child leaving the "nest".  Thankfully, my graduating son is sticking around and attending college locally; so we don't have to worry about sending another one off just yet. :)

I colored the duck with two Copic markers (Y21 & YR24).  Those gorgeous designer papers are from the brand-new Wisteria pack from Basic Grey.  Aren't they yummy???

Here's the full card recipe:

Stamps:  Pond Pals

Papers:  Pure Luxury White (Gina K), Basic Grey Wisteria Designer Papers

Inks:  Memento London Fog, Copic Markers

Accessories:  Eyelet Border Punch (SU), Circle Nestabilities, Prima Flowers, Pearl Dew Drops, Corner Rounder, White Satin Ribbon (SU), Dimensionals

The sketch for my card is the Card Positioning Systems sketch, which is sponsored by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps this week.  Hop on over there to check it out...and to see what the rest of the design team came up with.

What a day I had yesterday...made NINETY TWO graduation party invites and even got them addressed and ready to be mailed off this morning...phew.  It sure feels good to have that behind me!  Now, to get crackin' with my party planning! ;)

Have a fabulous Wednesday, my friends!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs~
C

You Scream, I Scream...

We all scream for ICE CREAM!!! :)

Hey everyone~

All of this warm weather we've had here has me thinking about summery things, like yummy ice cream cones. :)  This image is from Sweet 'n Sassy's Summer Fun stamp set.  I stamped the image three times and cut out two extra scoops of delicious ice cream.  I mean, c'mon...who has just one scoop anyway???

Here's a shot of the inside of the card, which has one of the many fun sentiments from the Summer Sentiments set:

Here's the card recipe:

Stamps:  Summer Fun, Summer Sentiments

Papers:  Pure Luxury White (Gina K), Co'ordinations Textured, Mimosa Designer Paper (SEI)

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa, So Saffron, Copic Markers

Accessories:  Sanding Block, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder, Circle Nestabilities, Sponge Dauber, Chocolate Brads (SU), Scallop Edge Punch (SU), Chocolate Satin Ribbon (PTI), Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (SU), Dimensionals

The Co'ordinations cardstock is the coolest stuff!  It has a white core.  After I Cuttlebugged the background, I sanded it lightly with a sanding block, which allowed the core to show through.

Here are the Copic markers I used:

Aren't those just the yummiest colors?!  Good thing I wasn't hungry when I was using 'em!

Now, on to the blog hop!  Your next stop on the hop is Jeanette's blog.  If you didn't see the amazing samples the girls created yesterday, stop on over to the Sweet 'n Sassy blog and start from the very beginning.  You'll be glad you did!

Did you know that Sweet 'n Sassy stamps has a new challenge blog?  It's called The Sweet Stop.  Stop by and join in on the very first challenge, which is a sketch challenge.  In fact, it's the sketch I used for today's card...easy and FUN!  I hope you'll play along with us! :)

Have a fabulous Thursday, friends!

Hugs~
C