WARNING: UH! OH! Watch out!-Lauren is on a LONG WINDED kick today! Sorry!! (I added this to the top to warn you when I reviewed my post, after I was done ranting! LOL!) Althought if you visit regulary this is of NO SHOCK value to you :D)

I wish I could say it was SUPER sunny and warm here today, but its a bit CHILLY.

But this should brighten your day-rain or shine

Pink Cat Studio release of Lily at the Beach!

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Seriously cute!! Im super happy that Melissa has been adding sentiments to the sets as well. You can NEVER have too many sentiments! EVER!

Now for my card

Sending you some sunshine!

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I took thos one quite literally.

Another thing I like to do, as much as making gift packaging is make shaped cards! I haven’t done one in a while, so thought this was the perfect time :D

Lily all wrapped up with the towel-needed to warm up! So I made a SUN.

 I just cut my card base in a half oval. Adhered a punch of square’s around the edge. I applies glue, and irridescent ice embossing powder-heat set, and VIOLA! A SUN! I then put another half oval over it to not only cover the squares, but make sure the front, and aback of card have a more finished look! You don’t want a MESSY side to your card!

I may do a video on it-if you need to see it, but its pretty straight forward!

I think this is super cute card!

Here is the close up of my Lily

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She is just adorable!

Make sure you check out the PCS Blog…HERE and the Design Team peeks

  • Becky Carafa
  • Janna Hull
  • Jodi Ann Lee
  • Lise
  • Maria Bell
  • Mariska van der Veer
  • Melissa & Pink Cat Studio
  • Nikki Fairbairn
  • Sarah Anderson
  • Vicki Garret
  • Also check out Tori-our Guest designer this month!

    • I have been practicing with my new camera-and WOW! (NOT ON THIS PROJECT OBVIOUSLY!) Did I ever get some STUNNING photos of Amber! Wait till you see. I’m having fun with it. Thank GOD she loves posing for me. Her friend was over yesterday, and I was trying to get photos. Amber was having a ball and her friend was HILARIOUS! She said “I didn’t come here to get my photo taken, I came here to play! How many pictures do you need?!” Amber was saying “This is fun! You don’t want your picture taken? and her friend was like “NO! Lets just go play” Her friend was right! LOL! I shouldn’t have picked that time to play model! LOL! Oh well. There is always TODAY!

    So, I was hyperventilating when I saw the guide was 125 pages long-with LOTS of info. I just decided that since I am a VERY visual person. I need to just “figure it out” pick it apart kind of thing.  Im not good at “directions”, and understanding all the blah blah blah, that I will just take my camera and practice. When I want to see HOW to do something, I look it up at that point. Its working OK.

    I ALWAYS wanted to be a photographer, yet I don’t like taking photos of my cards! LOL! Maybe its the editing?? But I do love using this new camera, and maybe with better photos from the camera I will get more involved into it. That hardest part is realizing that I have to look IN the eye piece! Unlike digital cameras with the SCREEN. Too funny. I FEEL like a photographer.

    I told Jason once I learn this I am going to enter some photo contests! LOL! I know, I know-I JUST got my camera! But its good to have GOALS!!

    Jason often thinks Im a bit insane sometimes when I voice some of my “dreams”. Like when I began stamping. I told him-someday I’ll win a contest-and I did! Someday I’ll be published in that magazine-and I was! Numerous times :D (too busy to submit these days), or I want to be on a design team, and many, many other DREAMS. Now I think he realizes not to underestimate me, or think I’m CRAZY!! I’m a go getter! If I set myself out to do something it IS going to happen. I work hard towards achieving my goals and doing what I truly LOVE. I don’t sit there and think things will fall from the sky and into my lap. That isn’t how it works. The biggest thing is having faith and confidence. Always better your best. Be passionate about what you love. No matter what it is.

     (That includes all of you who are on the new healthy lifestyle and exercising and or losing weight! I will tell you once you get to where you want to be-if you decide to not let yourself OUTGROW those skinny jeans-maintaining is MUCH easier!! Nip it in the bud immediately and stay fit and healthy! Im so proud of all of you out there who have joined me on this journey! Keep at it! Its not “I know I can do it!” Its “I WILL do this!” OK!- Sorry I had to add that in there-its important! I know I am proud of the 65lbs I lost (and the 9 1/2 inches from my waist, and 9 inches from my hips!! I feel amazing. More energy too)

    That being said I know photos are KEY to success in this craft! You can spend HOURS making the most stunning thing the world has ever seen-take a bad photo and it was pointless! I want to get involved with using more PROPS too. Im just SOOOOO lazy when it comes to that. If its not in my stamp room Im not hunting through my house for it! LOL!

     I am looking into photography classes-thanks for the links!! My problem is (after buying an expensive camera) the classes are expensive :C I would LOVE to take one. I did sign up for the email alert when Jessica Sprague has hers starting. I also found some at my Local camera shop! They have a cool website too with photo tutorials of the month! Its called Take Great Pictures. Also I was sent to another website Nikon D40 Blog. Between all that Im sure to get going in a good direction. I’ll be posting a PHOTOGRAPHY link on my sidebar soon for easy reference to places I will be checking out. If you want me to add something-shoot me a comment or email.

     At this point Jay is like-JUST FIGURE IT OUT! LOL! We have to pay for part of my surgery-which was 12,000!!! Obviously we aren’t paying THAT much but HOLY MOLY! For a less than ONE HOUR-laproscopic surgery, that I only stayed 6 hours MAX in the hospital for! WOW! Glad I didn’t stay over night. Plus we have to pay like $1,000 for my 911 ambulance ride! LOL! OOPS!

    I will say when Alexa was a baby, and had her open heart surgery the SURGEON bill ALONE was 52,000! Granted he literally saved Alexa’s life, so how can you put a price on that? But seriously! Maybe I should have been a doctor rather than a nurse! LOL! We won’t get into her chemo stuff. You haven’t seen medical bills till you have a kid with Cancer. It no wonder people without insurance lose everything. So tough.

    Anywho…………..

    Right now Im finishing up some more samples with my Templates :D I just designed 7 more of the BEST templates EVER!! Im so  proud of myself! LOL! Wait till you finally see them :D I try to keep WAY ahead!

    As for the Design Team-I will notify the people chosen via email Sunday night-announcement will be Monday OR Tuesday depending on the number of people to check out.

    The TEAM starts the first weekend in May! You have all gotten me so excited to begin this new challenge here. I love mixing it up! Thanks for all your input and ideas! After the feedback Im really looking forward to lots of participation too :D

     SO you have till Saturday night-which means you can include the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop in your submission! This month is to use your  My Timeless Templates! YEAH!! I’m going to be GLUED to the computer that night. As you can imagine, Im totally excited to see what everyone does :D I LOVE when you share your stuff with me. Its a dream come true :D I think more and more people are catching on to how fun, easy and affordable they are too :D Even better.

    OK I did NOT plan on being THAT long winded (as usual). That would have been one expensive long distance phone call! LOL!

    OK as always-thank you for stopping by. You all brighten my day :D

    Till tomorrow………………