I am in LOVE with Fancy Pants stamp sets, Bella Brush & Pollen Dust. Its so perfectly pretty and elegant. The camera did not catch the shimmer and shading on the flourish.

I decided to go with the “Create Art” cause thats how I was feeling. I feel like every card I create is my own little masterpiece! I truly dont even see them as being “cards” LOL! Just my little works of art-

Dont we all feel that way???

I used a combination of the two sets for my card here.

For the flourish of flowers I used MY very own cool technique I call Poppin Acetate (see highlighted words for tutorial).

The flowers are stamped on an acetate sheet, then Pebbles Pearlescent Chalk is dusted over the image while wet. So its very shimmery IRL! The acetate is attached using glue dotes behind the jewels (by K&co.) on the flower centers!

The cardstock is ALL Martha Stewart.

The ribbon is a sheer pink one from Michaels.

Thanks for looking!

I’d LOVE for YOU to try my technique then link it back here!!

So here is what I have been working on! Well, some of it-This was the invitation I made for my SIL Wedding Shower (which is this Saturday). Thanks for all the votes. NOTE: There was a purty little piece of BLING in the flower center that for some reason one of my children decided to pick it off the card, and scrap the glitter off!!!

So, this is a uglier version of the original! I made 75 of these, as well as made ALL the chocolates that are in the boxes (which I also assembled), then stamped a matching tag, and tied with matching ribbon. Thank God thats over.

The stamp sets are (my favorite) Jolies Fleurs, Just so Saying’s by Stampin’Up!, and the thank you sentiment is by The Paper Salon.

Cardstock is Stampin’ Up! Cool Caribbean (SU! is SO STUPID for D/C ing that color-), and ribbon & glitter is of course by Martha Stewart.

Now cross your fingers that the day goes well!

WOW! Its so fun when you all interact with me and tell my your stories.

I also find less people respond when they have to “work” for mytime mail! LOL! Interesting!

Are you all getting your email updates to my blog? I want sure if that got screwed up when SCS crashed. I have my self notified to make sure it “works” and I havent gottne anything! HMMMMMMMMM.

 Well, onto the MYTIME Mail winner. I randomly selected via computer #10 Ashley Dean

Please email me your address!

Here is what Ashley wrote- 

Love your greeter story. Too cute!

One of my most memorable moments was when my water broke. I was home alone and my sister (who was living with us) came in while I was sitting on the toilet trying to figure out what to do. I called the doctor at home who told me to go to the hospital. My husband was a street patrol officer so I had to call dispatch (this was before cell phones) and have her contact him on the radio that my water broke. So now the whole county knows it too. His partner that night is also a paramedic/RN. Ed tells my DH that with a first baby I’ll be in labor for a long time and he needs to eat now before getting to the hospital. So off they go to eat dinner. Meanwhile I’m still sitting at home waiting. An hour and a half later he walks in and I’m freaking out. He takes off his uniform and gets in the SHOWER! I was sooo PO’d. By the time we make it to the hospital – which is only 2 miles from the house – the doctor and both our families are there waiting including his sister who drove up from San Antonio (80 miles). Our son was born a couple of hours later.

When I tell people this story and about how upset I was about it Roger always reminds me that he did have time to eat dinner and take a shower.

Well I hope to get SOMETHING done for later today, so dont forget to check in again. Cross your fingers. Its crazy here the next couple of days.

Old Banner is back! Why mess with perfection.

Beth made me the perfect banner and I missed it!

OK Im posting this a day early! I am going to be WAY too busy to post it tomorrow!

Fright Night, Hit the Beach and Falling for you are all being released this week! YEAH!!! So get ready to fill your shopping carts and start prepping for the holiday early!!! That the best part about being a concept designer-you start prepping for holiday way in advance!

You can get these My Favorite Things sets here, All That Scraps, and eP.

Bewitched

How cute is this set?? Im not a big Halloween person but Kim has outdone herself on this one!

Wait till you see all the images. Every item I made with this set was accepted for publication (WAHOOOO!) So, I had to whip up another sample quick.

This card uses my Saturday sketch, slightly tweaked. The black paper is a spider web-by Stampin Up! Their Halloween paper from last year.

The stripped paper is by Three bugs in a rug-Seeing Stars collection. The star was a cuttlebug embossing die called decorative stars. The bkgd was done using Pebbles Pearlescent chalks, which adds a nice shimmer to the “night” sky! LOL!

Hit the Beach is next up-Release date is the 15th.

Itsy Bitsy Bikini

This was a quick card featuring the new summer set.

Patterned paper is by Memory Box-beach collection (how perfect!)

Catch a Wave

Ok Im bummed at how small this is! I overwrote the original-EEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK!

I used some PP by Flair Designs, and the beach themed one is unknown! The shark is by Flair as well. There are stickles on the wave layers (done with my CM cutter).

Now last but not least-

Falling for you-

This is a pillow box that is truly gorgeous IRL! I used pearl-ex to color it, and punched little leaves that were also done with pearl-ex. Ribbon is by American Crafts, and patterned paper is DCWV Fall Stack.

 Thanks for looking!

I actually have a ton I should be doing to prepare for my SIL wedding shower! Its Saturday. Oh well.

Here is some eye candy for now- WARNING! Super quick post!

 Flourished Thank you

 This card uses the Green Grass sets Flourishing and Card Greetings II. The paper is by Adornit-Friendship Hearts, and cardstock is by Prism in Razzleberry Med. More info here.

 This card was done using a $1 stamp I found at AC Moore. I also got the cool patterned paper there-no clue who makes it. I thought a blocking would be cool. For my Guy sentiment is by Lizzie Anne Designs-All Guy set. Ribbon is American Crafts.

 The next 3 Im re-posting a quick version cause for some reason with the SCS crash it got deleted! That sucks!

OK So card one I entered in a contest here. The challenge was use patterned paper from THREE DIFFERENT Companies.

Polka dots-Fancy Pants Birdie collection, Flower layer- Crossed Paths Friendship collection- Coral pattern  is KI Memories.

Stamp is from the $1 spot at AC Moore. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the flowers.

Card 2 & 3 use stamps by CactusPink called ? WildFlower. Not sure. Christine from All That Scraps will be ordering some I believe! Cross your fingers.

Im off. Alexa has Chemo ALL day tomorrow! Pray for her to not feel sick after. Its her spinal tap chemo and it hits her hard each time.

Enjoy your day!

AND thanks for reading. Dont miss your chance at MYTIME MAIL! Im lovin the funny stories you all have

It is a miracle! Not only do I now have my blog back (when SCS goes down my blog does too!) But I have FINALLY figured out how to make a Sketch in my Paint program! GO, LAUREN, GO, LAUREN….GO! GO! GO! GO! LMBO!

So I know this is late but its not my fault, here is the sketch!

OK so its not a fabulous job on it- but time was ticking. I have a ton to do over the next few days. All the info I had ready to go,got deleted, as did my SCS Pm’s so if you need something please re-contact me. That being said I had to re-do many things and dont have too much time.

I was SOOOO bombarded with emails from people DYING to know when my blog was going to be back up-I feel truly loved! LOL!

So here is my card for my sketch.

I didn‘t use an OLD sketch so figured we’d start a new! I do have another card to upload in a couple of days using this sketch as well, with a NEW Release set from My Favorite Things Stamps-so stay tuned. The 13th is its release date, so thats when I will post my sketch inspired creation. She actually has 2 sets ready to go that day, then another on the 15th! WAHOOOOO!

OK so the card-

I found some SUPER cute $1 stamps at Michaels that were irresistible! The Preggo Girl was one of them. Isnt she cute. This will be going to a friend of mine who I was meaning to send a YEAH! You did it-literally! LOL!

I stamper her on Blush Blossom and colored with Prismacolor Markers.

The Patterend Paper is from my LSS and I ahve NO CLUE who makes it-sorry!

So I used the cuttlebug mini embossing folders, on vellum cardstock for the accent WAHOO!!!

New Primas and brads for a little extra. Hope she likes it. Looks just like my friend!

I loved these new stamps SO much I decided to use my 3 faves as MYTIME MAIL!

All you have to do to enter is reply with a memorable story from either your pregnancy, birth, a baby moment-whatever!

If you dont have kids then you can respond with a funny story about YOU as a kid or a kid you know!

I will randomly select a winner on the 15th!

I would like to share a FAVORITE quote I heard recently that I think ANY mom can relate to

“I was a much better mother before I became one”

Isnt that hilarious! I think we can all relate! I would love to hear about things you said you’d never do BEFORE kids, that you have done!

Here are my stories-

Baby Story-

I was in Walmart, and a Greeter (old woman) complimented on how gorgeous Amber was. She added the slap to the face when she said ” What a gorgeous baby. Too bad you are covering her beautiful face with the disgusting sucker in her mouth (aka her binki). Im sure she’ll be oh so thankful for her buck teeth when she has braces in her teens”

I went postal on the woman. I was like “Hey who the H&#L asked your for your ____ing opinion. Do you even have children? and I went on to say many things about the woman that I am unable to type here. WOW! Totally hormonal moment.

I was a better mother before story-

I swore I would never feed my kids fast food, like McDonalds. Now I bribe them with it! LOL!

There are many things on that list let me tell you.

Ok now its your turn.

OK – HONEST opinions on my new banner! Do you like it or not?

I made it myself-literally! I stamped some images like you would a card and did some serious cropping and what not. I think its pretty cool. Im just so freakin proud of my self! “I” Lauren Meader figured it out! Its a miralce. I could do another on I was just playin with the idea. Just seeing if I could actually make my own.

I actually had another banner I wanted to do-seen here

AmyR sent me a link to this color website. Its basically a website of color combos. I saw this image and wanted it.  Anyway I emailed them and asked permission to use the image and got NO RESPONSE! This is what it would have been.

 I changed my banner  cause my site has a blue/gray/black base (I cannot control that cause its the only one to allow a custom banner without major issues!)

Anyway since I figured out how to make a banner made with the pre-exixting image (above) I thought it would be cool to try making my own.

Not sure If I will make another-Ill see what everyone thinks. So be honest!

Should I

1- Keep my new banner

2- Go back to my old banner

3- Make a new one-again! LOL!

Thanks for the input!

There are times in a mother’s life that make the bad days worth while!

I had several this week, and thought I’d share. Sometimes we need to focus on the little things. I had an emotional week but looking at it in whole it was a good week, so far.

Here is my angel

We have had some MAJOR scary thunderstorms. Amber was very scared to go to bed and kept getting up out of bed. When Jason and I went to go to bed we found her asleep on the stairs with the light on in the hallway. She even took her precious purple flower purse with her. (NOTE: My Stairs look awful OMG! I am so painting them this weekend! I swear my house isnt filthy! LOL! I thought about photoshop editing them-oh well it is what it is, right.)

Doesn’t she seriously look like an angel? Her blonde ringlets and cute puckered lip’s. This is heaven. To me. I will miss this I know. She is my “baby” and the thought of her cuteness growing up KILLS me. I would freeze her at this age if I could.

Our second thought was “Oh no! Imagine if she had fallen down the stairs!” YIKES.

Next photo is Alexa. I cannot tell you how much each day of her life has always meant to me. Since conception I have fought for this child. When she smiles like this it makes every tear, and battle worth it all. I would give me life for her health and happiness. She sees the world in a way I only wish to. She is the picture of strength. She is everything I hope to be.

She LOVES the park. This was taken on her class Field day.

She looks just like her biological father. SOMETIMES I see me. Just in her FIRE. She is a fighter. I like to think that is from me. Her hair grows then falls out again. I am so used to it I forget why people are staring-sometimes.

I hope God gives us a million more of these days.

Here is my little guy.

He had a t-ball game this past Saturday and did awesome. He was happy and played with the team without complaint! At the end he jumped up and down saying “I was AWESOME today!” LOL!

In this photo he was on 1st base, and he was tipping his head so I could get a proud mommy moment caught on camera.

He was very well behaved this week.

Now that is always nice. He can be the most amazing kid. He is SO much like me. I dont know if its a good thing or not! LOL! We clash alot because of that I think. I hope he grows into a man like his father. Some girl would be very lucky someday! He is so sensitive, and loving at times. I believe he will do so much with his life.

All in all the week has been good.

Alexa’s counts are low so we are praying those get better, but in all I am just thankful for my life. I am very blessed with all I have. I know people may think otherwise, but its things like what have happened in my life that really allows you to appreciate SO MUCH more than I would normally have.

With Alexa’s health issues every milestone has always been a huge blessing.

 Anyway, I figured Id share my good days, since I am always willing to share the not so good.

I would love to hear about a good thing that happned to YOU this week. Did you get new goodies, have someone say something nice? Whatever. Even the whole “my kids got along for 2 hours!” LOL! Lets hear it!

OH BOY! Hold onto your wallets everyone!

Have you checked out www.allthatscraps.com lately? Go to new products at the bottom if you want to see it ALL!

Paper, punches, stamps OH MY!!!

She has gotten in a TON of new products!

She now has the PRISM paper that I have been in love with for a few months, and is selling it in a sample pack too if you want ALL the colors for a FAB-U-LICIOUS price. I bought 2!

Bazzill cardstock-new colors and textures, and my favorite the BLING!

Stamps!!!! She carries ALL the My Favorite Things stamps, has the new Gel-a-tins, and Gina K (ordered all the new ones myself), and is going to be carrying Lizzie Anne Designs soon too.

She has the Marvy punches, with the strong arm! Check those out.

Ink! Oh man she is now carrying the versmagic, and Pallette Hyrid ink in the large pad and SPOTS! She also had the Fantasix brushes I love, the NEW! Prismacolor pencil colors, oh boy.

PRIMAS! Need I say more?

May Arts ribbon OH! I could just get it all!

 Dont get me started on Patterned Paper! All the new DCWV, KI memories, Piggy Tales and K &co to name a few.

OK I need to take a deep breath! Just go look. Tell her I sent ya! She has wicked fast shipping too! PLUS FREE shipping on orders over $25. HELLO!

You can get all your faves in ONE place. Have it on your door in just days. How cool.

I cannot wait till my goodies arrive.