FIRST- thank you for the well wishes after the tornado thing. Also the advice. I think I got lots of info that I would not have otherwise. My heart goes out to all who experience this often, and any losses you have had because of it. Those who talked about it being the signs of the end of the world, unfortunately, I agree and get the heebie jeebies over it.
I have the Saturday Sketch for you!
ALSO if any of you know of HOW I can make these with PaintShop Pro-email me!! (DAWN you know I’m talkin to ya girl! LOL!) Or any other program other than Paint. I can’t always get into more complex L.O. due to the regular Paint Program. Thanks 😀 I would love to learn to get better sketches done.
I wasn’t going to post…………..lives are busy at this time of year, and people seem to not be doing them as often, so I really wandered if it was even worth doing this week. This week also leads to my insanely busy time of the month. I have stuff going on that would make your head SPIN I tell you! In fact today I had an idea for another BIG thing, but we will see where that goes!! This will make sense to you in time.
Please take note there is NO time limit or contest on my sketches. My point is for pure inspiration ONLY! I want to get your hiney OFF the computer (after you stop by here of course! LOL!) and get using all the products you buy.
There are always so many challenges, so I figured what is ONE more. I have been doing these weekly sketches for well over a year now!! I thought maybe you all were sick of them, to be honest. But if you all want it, then here you go!!
I am happy to hear so many do enjoy them at some point in their crafting 😀 I also thought maybe I should get some volunteers! Anyone want to do a weekly challenge? You don’t have to have a blog. Just some place to link-or you can send me your creation and I will upload it here for you (WITH CREDIT OF COURSE) Let me know.
OK now to the paper sample of the sketch…………………
It’s a Jungle
I LOVE this set-Born to be Wild from Lizzie Anne! I {HEART} Giraffes. Noah still has his little stuffed once he got when I found out I was pregnant with him. Jay and I had his named picked within 3 hours of finding out. All we needed was confirmation for a BOY!
Very recently Noah made me remove all his “Noah’s Ark” themed items from his room, stating “Mom, I’m not a baby anymore!” “I don’t need all this baby stuff” (AWE!!! WHAT does he mean he’s not a baby anymore?! He’ll always be my baby!!) But he did make sure I kept “Raffey”. That made my heart leap 😀 YEAH! He has sentimental value. That is something that can’t be taught. You got it or you don’t.
OK sorry about that. Everything I do always has a thought or reason, or a WHY I love it so much, and sometimes I go overboard in explaining that.
SO point is I have had it this set too long and had been unable to pull it out and use it. WELL-I finally had to play. It was a lot of fun.
I used a Paisley & Petals collection by SEI, to inspire my colors. I also made white polka dots on my giraffe like in the paper. I thought these colors were so RETRO SAFARI!!! They are also a bit masculine. Love it. I love this layout. I am going to have to try it again (I think I always say that! LOL!!!!)
SO if you try it, or if you don’t, I hope you are just plain inspired to stamp. I encourage those of you who just gallery gaze and are afraid to upload to STOP!! Get your creations uploaded and into a gallery or something. I noticed this week I got a lot of emails about being afraid to upload, and you fear your work isn’t good, and all that non-sense! We all are continuously needing to better OUR best. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else but you. SERIOUSLY!!!
Even the very best artist make really crappy cards time to time-you just don’t see them. Not every vision turns a masterpiece. What you hate, some one else will love (this happens to me often and I think I have bad taste! LOL! My least liked creations or one’s I may not want to share become the most loved! I almost never shared my ONESIE card! LOL!) I still throw cards out. You should have seen the HOT MESS (channeling Christian from Project Runway-love that saying) that I made the other day. It was my worst card in a LONG time. REALLY BAD!
SO UPLOAD, SHARE!!! Be confident. If you have no confidence in yourself WHY would anyone else?
OK off the soap box. If you start a new gallery or something I’d LOVE to see it and send you some encouraging words-so drop me a link 😀 I’ll check it out.
Happy Saturday, and I cannot wait to see what YOU do.
62 Responses for "OK! OK! I hear ya loud and clear! AND an unexpected PEP TALK"
The end of the world? I’m so sorry you feel that way. Plagues, etc. have been with us for ever. If this is a religious belief, I apologize for butting in!!
I would *love* to be a volunteer and do your weekly challenge. I don’t often get a chance to craft on the weekends because that’s when my dh is around and we like to spend that time together, but today he is helping a friend move, so I will be back later with a card for the sketch.
Hey girl! Glad to hear that you made out okay with the tornado…they are scary for sure! We get warnings quite often here but rarely does it amount to anything. I know since our “black Friday” twenty some years ago when 27 people died here, everyone panics, and rightly so. I understand your fear of them too!
Your card is cute!! That little giraffe is totally adorable….hehe!
OK as for the PSP….I’ll help ya….you know it!
Today I’ll pretend to make a sketch and as I do it in PSP….I’ll write down the directions for layers and tools. Then send it to you 😉 You’ll get it to work…trust me!
Oh ya…and you KNOW I’m up for doing a sample….anytime….let me know
I’d LOVE to do a challenge with you, Sistah! Sign me up! You’re sketches are all SO awesome! I haven’t used this adorable set, either. I need to get it out pronto! You’re card is too cute with the PP coordinating giraffe spots. Very clever, Girlie!
Cute card again Lauren. I hope to get some more stamp time today after work. Good to hear Noah still has Raffy. Johnny still has his Mr. Ostrich, even after 15yrs, so I think Raffy will hang around for awhile.
OMG I couldn’t believe you said you almost didn’t post your onsie card. That is so cute! Love the card and sketch you did today – adorable. I always look forward to seeing you pop up in google reader. Thanks for all the wonderful inspiration. Glad to hear your ok from the tornado. That is scary!!!
HEY HEY HEY –
No dont’ stop the sketches girlfriend! They are super awesome! I would love to volunteer for your sketches if you’d have me. Let me know if it works out and the dets!
I love the card you made! I haven’t gotten any new LAD but the fall and christmas ones are awesome and have you seen the new GINA K! What am I saying look who I’m chatting Of course you have!! Awesome! I might get all 3! Oh lordy!
Off I go today to take the little ones to a friends pool for the first time!
Can’t wait to hear you newest “big” news! You always have something up your sleeve.
I’m just catching up on posts today! So scary about the tornado!! We think living on the East Coast we are imune from such things. I’m glad everyone is safe & sound.
I love all your sketches and hope you keep it up. This is a great one and your sample is so cute! I love the bold paper you chose. I always have trouble with big patterns on cards. So, you have inspired me to try again with them.
I’d love to do your challenges weekly. I’ll be back later this weekend with a sample. My little guy is refusing to nap today so right now there is no time to stamp. 😉
I grew up in NYC/NJ area and we had several hurricanes pass close by and have been in Michigan for 30 years but only once had minor damage. It seems that the more recently storms are more damaging. Glad you are okay.
We have two grown sons and Erik (28)is living with us at this time. He still has his “George”(monkey) on the shelf in his closet. He said he wants to save it for his child one day. .
I would be willing to try your inspiration cards.I sometimes struggle with cardmaking ideas so any practice would be good although I’m not a beginner.
I don’t have a blog at this time.That’s a future goal for me.
Nice sketch…
Adorable Card!
Great colors..such pretty papers.
Cute Giraffe. Buttons are perfect!
*Have a nice day!
Thanks for the pep talk! And the reminder to get OFF the computer. If I stamped as much as I stay on the computer, I’d be doing well!!!
LOVE your card, and the sketch. Can’t believe you didn’t know your onesie card was magnanamous!!! You are SO creative, and I can’t believe you make “bad” stuff!!!
Have a wonderful weekend 😀
Lauren, thanks for the pep talk, I needed it! I even went and blogged because of it!
http://inkingitup.blogspot.com/
LOVE your card… the one I posted today is old, but it uses a wild animal in honor of you. I really appreciate you, gal ;^)*
Julie
I love your sketches and look forward to them every week – THANK YOU! You are such an inspiration! Your work is fabulous and I read your blog daily in order to ‘kick start’ my creativity. You are very much appreciated!
Hey! Glad to see that you did the sketch. Since I was one of the throngs of people asking you to do it, I had to try it! You can see my card here
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/996356?cat=766
and also, this is the card I’m going to be giving away on my blog this Wednesday! thanks Lauren.
I love this sketch! I will have to try it when I get home. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I am visiting your blog while on vacation.
I’ve NEVER done a sketch before but I wouldn’t mind giving it a go. I mean, I do my own layouts on cards all the time, there’s no reason I can’t sketch them out right? Let me know if you would like me to send one over.
I’ll be praying for you guys about the tornado!
I forgot to mention that my hubby kept one stuffed animal from when he was a baby too. It (Sheriff Bow Wow) sat on a shelf for MANY years and now he belongs to our son. 🙂 Hopefully Noah will do something like that. I can’t imagine how sad you must have felt when he told you he wasn’t a baby anymore. My Brady strives for more and more independence everyday and it’s killing me even though he’s only 13 months.
Lauren,
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now and love all of your creations! I don’t usually do a challenge, but will copy down a sketch I like to try later. But, if you’re going to set something up, I’d at least try it!! I have a ton of stuff I need to use!
As to the tornado, I grew up in “tornado alley” (but a lot of people say that) and they can be scary, but usually everything turns out fine!
Enjoy!
Hey, Lauren, I’d love to do your weekly challenge! You are always such an inspiration to me.
Oh, and I meant to tell you how much I understand that fear of being “under the influence of the weather” — we have big trees all around and lots of wind storms that happen… very nerve-wrecking, I tell ya’ I am glad you and yours are safe. Hoping your mention of another you cared for proved them safe, too.
We are trying to save small special items, toys and clothes, for our girls to have some heritage to pass along. It is so hard to save things in a home with no storage, and in a time when folks seem to cast things off so easily.
I am re-reading a series of favorite books that are set in history (The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldon) and I can really value history. I also know how much we value the PEOPLE and stories, so I try to keep those alive too, with scrapbooking!
Out of all the blogs I enjoy spending time on, yours is definately my fave! I love your style and the inspiration you give all your readers. Thanks for giving me daily joy 🙂
God bless you and your family!
Hey girl,
I’d LOVE to do a weekly challenge. What do you have in mind?
Lately I haven’t been able to do the sketches weekly and the ones I *have* done, I haven’t had a chance to upload. But I do look at them (matter of fact, I check your blog daily!) so please, please don’t stop!!! Like the one today… I’m such a “centered” …balanced…stamper… But I love how you have the image off to the left. That will inspire me to try it!! CUTE card! Hugs…
Your challenges are always appreciated. Your style is so different that your sketches are wonderful to try!! And I like your advice! I love to go into different card maker’s galleries or blogs and look at their first stuff and then look at their most recent stuff. It is always so inspiring to see how much they’ve improved…myself totally included!! I’m sure you will have lots of takers for the weekly challenges but I’d be happy to help out as well in you are interested 🙂
Enjoy your day!
Here’s the link to my blog where I did your sketch today and challenged my readers to do it too!
http://kristinshappy.blogspot.com/2008/07/are-you-ready-for.html
Enjoy!
Please don’t stop the sketches I tend to note them even if I don’t find time that week. When I first saw today’s diagram I must admit I thought it was horrible but then when I saw what you had done with it and the way you used the DP I changed my mind completely. I have a load of Christmas images stamped and coloured that I am trying to turn into cards but not sure if I have any small rectangular ones – if I do you know what’s coming!!
Funny you should post about changing Noah’s room. Today my DH and I painted my daughter’s room purple. She had an animal theme going on, but she wanted to have purple since she wasn’t a baby anymore. So, purple it is…she did however keep all of her stuffed animals, including her griraffe collection. She does however want me to paint Backyardigans on the wall..Ugh!
love the layout! How scary about all the tornados! We had one of our big trees fall about 2 feet from our house last week and we dont normally get weather like that either. SCARY!!!!
Cute card Lauren! Isn’t it pulling at your heart when one of your children declares that you take something out of their room because they are not babies anymore & their too old for that stuff now? They grow up too fast, I miss those day.
We also had a tornado warning the day before NH & it was very scary. So glad that all is well with you & your family.
I have some wedding pics on my blog whenever you have time.
I’m back…. 😉
Here is my take on the sketch.
http://tamarastamps.blogspot.com/2008/07/its-never-too-early-to-make-christmas.html
Though I havent’t played in awhile I will try to get one done sometime this weekend. Your blog is the one that I always come back to everyday for inspriration. I love reading all your stories about you family. Kepp it up. Susan
Lauren—I’m at my sister’s house, so I can’t play for a few days, but I’d love to do a weekly challenge—or maybe just one—however you want it done!
Thank you so much for your pep talk. It is something that I really needed today. I do have my cards on SCS but it is so hard entering competitions and things like that when you don’t think that you’re good enough. I am going through that now but how will I know if I don’t try right?
I loved your story behind this card. I decorated my boys room with a sports theme so I hope it’s awhile before they outgrow thier things. My oldest was born on Good Friday 2005 and everyone of course gave me bunnies and Easter related gifts. One of the stuffed bunnies has a permanent place in my oldestn’s heart. He even calls him his best friend. So sweet.
Anyway, thank you for your love, your stories, and your amazing talent.
I played with your sketch today. My card is up on my Splitcoast gallery and will be posted tomorrow on my blog.
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/996727?cat=500&ppuser=10691
Thanks, lauren! You’re the best!
Have a great weekend!
Dear the Lovely Lauren,
you know what? I only just started uploading to Splitcoasts and I have had 200 views of one of my cards and 5 comments! It Truely made my day! Oh and in other news one of my cards have been accepted into a magazine here in Australia. How exciting! You really have to just put yourself out there and submit and upload. I tell you so much joy has come from it, and so many dreams have come true!
Alyssa
P.s you can view my 5 Splitcoast cards here:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=142809
And the one out for publication is the one out for publication. I am such a bubble of excitement!
I’m in for the weekly challenge. I can only hope for an excuse so that I get off the computer and stamp!
Rieca
Thanks for the encouraging words. I might send one to you. And hey..if you are real busy, we will understand if you can’t blog or can’t do a sketch.
As for the bad weather….I am sure that God is not telling us anything! Neither does the Bible.
Still glad you are okay. Hope everyone else is fine too.
Oh, I know how you were feeling–I grew up w/ tornadoes coming in off the water & its scary no matter how old you are. I’m glad you all are safe & sound!
Please, please don’t stop the sketches–I love them! I don’t always get to them right away, but I always put them in a file (w/your name on it) to use later. I’d love to do a weekly challenge w/ you–sounds fun!
Have a great weekend!
Suzanne
I would love to be a volunteer to do your weekly challenges! I love your sketches and usually copy them into my little “inspiration journal” for future use. Your sketches are always a little different and out of the box for me, but I love them all and have so much fun challenging myself with them. And yes, I too was nervous about starting up a gallery and then a blog with my cards. I thought, what if they are hideous and no one likes them? But then I finally just did it, because I love papercrafting and I wanted to share my love. So, now I love posting and creating and sharing that with anyone who feels like looking!
I read your blog yesterday about the tornado. The weather really has been funky lately. I would just love to be a volunteer for your weekly challenges. I check out your blog every day and am just amazed at all of your unique and cool ideas. I just PTI too so I always look forward to your projects then too. Anyway, I made a card for your challenge this week. I really enjoyed this one and it worked out perfectly with a Bella image I had colored. The link to my blog is: http://www.kvernon.blogspot.com. Thanks for the chance!
If I didn’t know better, I would think that this statement in your blog:
“Please take note there is NO time limit or contest on my sketches. My point is for pure inspiration ONLY! I want to get your hiney OFF the computer (after you stop by here of course! LOL!) and get using all the products you buy.”
was written just for me and my buddy Margaret. We drove 5.5 hours to Grapevine, Tx last weekend to attend the Heirloom Productions Stamp Show. We both spent far more than we thought or planned to, but we have absolutely no regrets. We both have been using our latest stash like crazy this week when we had the chance. But it is so easy to get online and look and look and look and before long, there is no time to stamp and it is way past time to go to bed. So when I read this, I immediately emailed it to myfirend and she thought the same thing I did. You really SPOKE to us today!!!
This evening as I was actually stamping (in between online sessions), it was I who thought of you as I utilized my 5 newest Magnolia stamps. Now my collection doesn’t hold a candle to yours, but I do have a nice collection of Sugarnellies, too. I’m about to catch a flight to Sweden so I can get my hands on some Hanglar Stanglars. That’s what I really want!
I adore this sweet little giraffe, my favorite zoo creature since I was a little one. And my friend’s 8yo also loves them, so that’s our special little thing since we both think giraffes are the coolest animal that exists. That’s so sweet that Noah wanted to keep his little giraffe. Gave me goose bumps reading that. I know it meant a lot to you!!!!
I visit your site for daily inspiration, most of which sits inside my head. I tend to shop and blog browse way more than stamp. It seems like I never have enough time to do challenges or make cards just for fun (I make cards for SU! clubs/classes, which is fun, but it can be limiting). I would like nothing better than to be a volunteer for your weekly sketches if you’re trying to assemble a “design team” for your sketches. Forced participation at its best! 🙂 My blog is http://www.stampinintherain.blogspot.com and you’ll noticed I credit lots of things to YOU, especially for one of my recent classes.
Lauren,
Thanks for the continued inspiration…in both your work and your words. I don’t post a lot of my stuff (I do have a small gallery) because I look at everyone else’s and realize it’s not as good. But, today is a new day and I’ll get my camera out and start snapping photos! Have a great day. Heather
Lauren…You are so inspiring to more stampers than you realize. If you are putting together a weekly sketch design team, I would be honored to be a part of such a wonderful group.
Hey Kiddo…
I haven’t had a chance to check in the last few days – the news of the tornado freaked me out. I am so afraid of tornadoes. During a warning, you’ll always find me in the basement. My worse dreams are usually about tornadoes.
I’m *so* glad that you and your family are okay. Hey, we have lots to catch up on. We’ll talk soon!
Big Hugs!!!
I’m glad you and your family are safe! I would love to volunteer for the sketch challenges if you still need another person. I hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
Here is my card – thanks for the fun challenge:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/997630?cat=500&ppuser=56264
Heather
Well everything is in order. Unfortunately also plays here in Germany the weather is crazy.
You have me with Paint Shop Pro on the idea. Quite a lot of sketches to create. There are on my Blog. I would be delighted if you like this one or a few and I used the links to send the works. Sorry for my English – it was with google translate
Hey hey –
Here are my takes on the sketch this week:
http://riacreations.blogspot.com/2008/07/sketch-challenge-fun.html
thanks!
maria
Here’s my take on your sketch. Thanks for the inspiration!
http://midnightscramper.blogspot.com/2008/07/cyber-hugs-and-blue-hair-gel.html
hugs,
MacKenzie
Hello, I would love to help yo uout with your challenges. That would be so much fun 🙂 I am in love with your blog, you are so talented. I was happy to see you working with PaperTrey Ink. I LOVE thier products 🙂
Thank you for your words of encouragement! I am always making cards and although sometimes I do think they are a hot mess, I would love the opportunity to share them and learn from everyone else. I would love in to involved in a weekly challenge and be able to send in my stuff as I don’t have a blog either.
great sketch Lauren! I decided to give it a try http://mycardstockcreations.blogspot.com/
Lauren, I’d love to do your weekly sketches too…it looks like you’ve already got lots of people volunteering for it–if you are too full already, I’ll just try them as you post them, for fun anyway!
I’m a bit of a dum dum and totally read this wrong the first time. I would LOVE to do examples of your sketches if you ever need someone to do that.
oh, I love sketches and yours are always quite interesting. I always save all manner of challenges. Some I do, some I don’t. All depends on time! BUT, I did do this sketch (flipped it sideways…), and here it is!
I finally got your sketch done! You always motivate me to get stamping done….TIME and other obligations (KIDS!) are what prevents me from following thru! LOL! But that’s a good thing to spend my time on and taht’s ok. Anyway, thanks for the sketch and here’s my card: http://tanyastampsnthings.blogspot.com/2008/07/friend-good.html
Don’t you DARE stop doing your sketches!!!! I like them cause the are simple but UNIQUE!!!!!
Great sketch Lauren! I would love to make a card for one of your sketches sometime. Just pop me an e-mail! And…here is the card I made for this sketch!
http://live-love-laugh-create.blogspot.com/2008/07/belli-challenge-27.html
Such a fresh, vibrant, great card, Lauren–you always ROCK!
Okay, okay…you inspired me! I got off the computer, I took 30 minutes during my work week (which I never do) Set the timer and did it! I may have taken some “creative liberties” with your original sketch, but, hey, I gotta be me! Thanks Lauren! On a more serious note, how do you schedule your time? You must be very organized to get so much accomplished! Please share how you complete a creation start to finish. (if you have the time:)
Here’s my card: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1002449&cat=500&ppuser=23752
wow love the card!! it is freaking adorable! I love to stamp..I especially like to use it when I scrapbook, my mom got me into it. Thanks for the inspiration, i love to check out other peoples work.
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