Happy 29th Birthday to me!

As I sit here I sing myself the birthday song! I was for whatever reason, excited about this birthday. Maybe because its my last year in my twenties and I should treasure it? I think I was maybe too excited, cause my life couldn’t live up to the expectation of the day! LOL! But thats all it is ONE day, that will soon be just another.

In all seriousness, I have so much to be grateful for. When I look at my life year to year, there have been bumps, but each one has got me here.  I have been very fortunate! 10 years ago (not only was I a baby) but I didnt know anything! I had no idea what true love, joy and happiness really were! Although I thought I knew it all. I understand why they say youth is wasted on the young! I can only imagine the knowledge I will gain in another decade (God willing) of living life.

So many things have happened over the last 5 years its amazing. I have morphed into a completely different person! Some are attributes, others probably not so much. Depends on who you ask.

I have been through alot in my 29 years. Some things that take other people a lifetime to complete. For all of it, I am thankful.

I have been married and divorced. Been a single mother to a child with disabilities, and done a pretty good job I think. I have all the children I will ever physically bear. I found my true soul mate. A man who brings out the best in me, and challenges me to grow into an even better person. I have owned homes, had nice furniture, lots of money and fancy cars (first marriage) and learned even with all that, without love, that wasn’t happiness. I had a career, then happily became a stay at home mom again, then got a hobby! Alexa got diagnosed with cancer. That was huge! But that experience made my marriage stronger, brought people together that would not be otherwise, gave me faith and hope (cause thats all you can have sometimes), showed me sometimes you can only go UP the ladder, taught me each day truly is a gift. Age doesn’t matter. ANY day could be your last. Always say I love you, never take people for granted, or your life and health for granted. That there truly is a higher power. Sometimes you will have no control, and it will be OK. If I really want to accomplish something, all I need, is hard work and confidence and it WILL happen. Set goals. Somethings aren’t important- Like the laundry being folded or the house being spotless. Friends come in many forms, and from unexpected places. Every moment in life has a purpose.

Most importantly take it ONE day at a time.

And Im lucky to have my husband, children and family! Some people have no one. I feel I have it all. I am blessed.

Wow thats alot of reflection-sorry about that but I feel good.

So I made myself a birthday card!

How many people make THEMSELVES a birthday? I would guess not many, so that would make me UNIQUE! LOL! Or so I like to think.

This is the first of many 29th birthday’s for me-LOL! Im keeping this number for quite some time I think. That’s why I chose this sentiment. I bought it months ago at Impress rubber stamps. View my shopping log to check them out. The sentiment is stamped in craft eggplant, and embossed with iridescent ice EP. The rainbow organdy ribbon is from Michaels.

The Birthday Girl, and sentiment are both by the NEW! 2007 Penny Black line.

I used purple because that is of course my favorite color! The center of the “9” has a faux diamond. I LOVE bling! I also love my cuttlebug-so had to use that. This number set is the Red Tag alpha.

Her dress is purple stickles. LOVE those too. I also love cutting around an image, and some goes outside the border.

NOW-the background! It was a sentiment stamp by Penny Black. When we went to the expo we all learned a JAW ON THE FLOOR technique that was super easy. I bought some purple “Bling Bling” as they call it, so per our agreement (we had to use everything we bought within a week and time is ticking) I used it.

All you do is stamp in versmark. Apply heat & stick powder (heat set). Apply bling paper shiny side up. Rub well, then rip off fast! DONE! How cool eh?

I just love girly images. I am definitely the girly girl type.

So that MY birthday card! LOL!

Well now I must run to the DMV to get a new License. That should be fun.

I have some other cards to post but will let my emotions soak in before doing that! LOL!

Thanks for reading.

Be back later to post some MYTIME MAIL, cards received, and other musings! Stay Tuned!!

Isn’t this beautiful? I mean really?

I know its lame to pat yourself on the back, but when you have a “vision”and it turned out even better than hoped, or you are just please with what you do you SHOULD get excited about it! This craft is all about creativity and expression!

I am in love with the Stampendous stuff @eP! OMG! I cannot stop shopping there! Anyway, this is a favorite flower image of mine called Poppy Stems.

I embossed it in gold onto natural ivory cardstock. Watercolored the stems, centers and bkgd. I then used my new white liquid pearls, and applied it to the flower petals. I cut a few out and put them on dimensionals.

The bottom was done using an Onare piercing template from Ellen H’s store. I used my journaler point of the marker, to connect the “dots” so to speak, so it looks stitched.

The “photo corners” were just the wrought iron punch, cut! Love the elegant look.

The background was this butterfly bkgd I got at the stamp expo. I used my pearlescent pastels over them, so it really shimmers. I did this for the sketch challenge 122.

Tied on some gold ribbon. Stamped “My Mom” from Fancy flexible phrases, punched and layered the ovals and I was done. OOPS Lets not forget color spritzed! Love that tool!

OK that sounds extremely simple but was a slightly time consuming work from the heart!

Thanks for looking-I will be back-again!

One more day till my Birthday! I actually think I’m excited. Can you tell? I’m doing a birthday card-a-thon! LOL! Seriously though its the most used card topic don’t ya think? I got some cards from friends in the mail, and I will post a photo of them tomorrow! Thanks everyone. I love you all 😀

So, as you all may know I am one the Design team members for Lizzie Anne Designs. You can see my samples in their gallery. Make sure you click on the category (ie birthday, holiday). They have some awesome talented girls workin for them (I hope I can keep up)! SO here you can meet the Design Team! I always find it fun reading about people lives, and the paths they have chosen and why!

ENABLER ALERT! DO NOT click this if you DON’T want to see the NEW! releasescoming out! Money may mysteriously began to fly out of your checking account, and you may even end up with HAPPY mail (thats what I call any delivery with stamping goodies).

My box of goodies should be arriving in the next 2 weeks. Watch out Mr. Mailman! I will be hunting you down.

So until then……here are some little bits of eye candy for you.

The card at the top-I wanted funky and fresh. I didnt have much in the way of Birthday sets from Lizzie Anne so was challenged to do something cool. The present is from their Celebrations II set. I love making things 3D, so for the center gift thats what I did. I also stuck a small piece of tissue paper in the gift box, so its like an open gift.

I stitched (faux of course) around the black layer to continue that pattern in the gift boxes. I LOVE circles, so went with that. No card is complete these days without a cuttlebugged anything!

 For the tag I stamped the happy birthday sentiment from Simply Sentiments multiple times in alternating inks, then cut/rounded the corners.

Ribbon is from AC.

 Happy Birthday 2U

Well this card is different because the gift box is the card. It opens from the bottom. I loved the circle image from Funky Floral, so used that to make my patterned present.

The ribbon was from the Bella Art booth at the stamp expo (make not girlies) and was the inspiration for the card colors.

Used Simply Sentiments again for the round tag, and the “gift for you” on the side.

 Little Bits of birthday wishes

This card is clean and simple. I got the ribbon from the new Martha Stewart line. It inspired this card colors. I used the Little Bits set to make my flowers. Happy Birthday stems were done using  Simply Sentiments set. HAD to add some bling! That would be from K & co.

The awesome flower border is a new punch by Martha’s line. Im not big on those long border punch but have to say I am LOVIN this one!

That all for today. I really hope I get to stamp BUT my nursing license needs renewing TOMORROW, and I have to get 30 hours of CEU’s done from now till then or my license lapses! EEEEK!

I know WHY did I wait. Well, honestly I forgot. I put the paperwork at the bottom of the mail pile and there it lay till yesterday. I really dont want to go back to nursing so I think it was a subconscious thing. I also dont want to lose what I worked SO HARD to get. So I will be reading and testing today in between kids freakin out and needing things.

I actually hoping to continue my love for stamping and making that my “career”. Sounds stupid but I think I can do it! People do! Why not me? NIX my last comment- I WILL do it! LOL! Eventually……………

So till tomorrow!

I will be posting MYTIME MAIL since its my birthday! So be on the look out.

HUGS PSF’s-

I LOVE- LOVE- LOVE- LOVE- LOVE- butterflies! In case you didn’t realize that already! If I had a tattoo it would be a butterfly. I just love them so much it ridiculous!

So for the CC112 Think Pink I did this card. My friend Debbi, gave me this gorgeous butterfly embossed shimmery paper, so I had to use it on the next two projects.

Unfortunately this is a sympathy card for a family member. I always think butterflies when I do a sympathy card because they are so beautiful, and the signify NEW BEGINNINGS!

This card was inspired by my friend Nichole. She had a pretty, sparkly butterfly on the butt of her jeans! I was so inspired to make something after seeing that, so this is what I did.

Beautiful Butterfly

I embossed the butterfly (WINGED THINGS retired by SU!) in gold EP, on vellum cardstock. I used versamagic dew drops, and a cool felt pen to color in the butterfly. I then cut it out, and propped it onto a Prima Daisy.

Tha card base was done using Bazzil cardstock. I get a assortment pack when I buy that was I get a little of each color. I tied around some pink organdy ribbon, and tiffany fiber (a must have both by SU!) I stamped the sentiment in gold encore ink.

I layered the butterfly vellum onto brushed gold cardstock. The attached to card base. Attached the daisy, and I was done. I hope she likes my card.

Sentiment reads

The butterfly counts no the months

(inside) but the moments and has time enough.

Doesn’t it just give you goose bumps? It reminds me that every moment counts. No matter how long someone lives, it the memories that are made during that time that will make it last forever. As long as you have your moments your time is eternal.

Granted I have never (thankfully) lost anyone close to me so Im sure that sentiment would quickly be trashed-

And onto the next item!

I also got the stickers from Debbi-and we all have a deal must use our stuff this week!

So, I got this lantern (as well as 8 others) at the Target dollar spot!

  Sorry I just cant get a decent photo of it any larger. It takes up my entire screen! Just click it, and it should show all the details!

HELLO! Nice deal! Its suppose to be a hanging tea light holder. I am using mine for decoration in my bathroom! LOL!

I love the stickers by K & Co. as well. Purple is my favorite color, and the rhinstone on the butterfly head is my birthstone! Happy Birthday to me!

So this lantern has glasspanel, I put my cardstock in front of the panel so IF I did want to burn a small tea light I could.

The ribbon is rainbow organdy ribbon from Michaels.

No stamping! But I love it!

Well, isn’t she quite the poser! Alexa received this gift from my friend Tracey, complete with pink boa! She obviously loved it!

So I made this card inspired by this photo- DRAMA QUEEN

I got this gorgeous velvet flocked paper at Michaels the other day. I am addicted to flocking these days, so I had to flock the crown by Green Grass Stamps called Le Femme Royale (which I so love!)

It of course needed some bling-and the touch of pink is perfect! I did this for the CC112as well. The bling buckle is by Hot Hues from Target!

Isn’t it so HOT! LOL!

Thanks for looking!

Well I have been working hard these days stamping away! This is just a small portion o the other fun things I’ve created.

I will post a DROOL ALERT when Kim gives me the OK to post some of my goodies with NEW! Release stamp sets. I also have some publications coming out using her sets-so you will have to wait several months to see those. It KILLS me to have to wait and share.

So I decided to whip up a few samples till I can! LOL!

Here is my Have a Doggone Birthday!

With my birthday coming this week I have birthdays on the brain. I will be 29! I thought I would be upset, but I am excited about the change. Better to embrace the NUMBER, afterall it is JUST a number right? Deep breath’s.

Anyway-I love this image (Lets go for a walk by MFT) and wanted to use it. I thought it would be fun to use the image in a way that focuses on Kim’s “signature” headless style. Which I really like cause I’m not always up for making up faces KWIM? Plus I love images that go outside the “box”, literally!

I got this paper at the stamp expo I went to the other day. OH, its SCRUMPTIOUS! (Hope that is spelled right). I got it at the Bella Art booth, which I think it was agreed we all loved that one most!

The paper is The Sugar Collection, by Memory Box, and Ellen H sells it in her store here. Photos do it NO justice trust me! I was on a wild goose chase thinking where I could find more! The hoarder in me just cannot bear to think it will be gone someday! LOL!

I also used my new stickles (make a note girls) on the hat.

The image was colored with my Prismacolor pencils, and gamsol with blending stump. Put some dazzling diamonds on the hat tops by using my quickie glue pen ( another must have).

Shopping and Friendship

Now those are two things I really love! This set is my favorite! Its called Say Charge! Be on the lookout for more cool stuff with this set soon (hint, hint). I also love the NEW! Behind the Scenes set. Its just so pretty!

I did this for the WT110 challenge! It was to use orchid opulence. Well wouldn’t you know my dear friend Debbi is having a birthday, and her favorite color is-PURPLE!

She was suppose to get this the other day, but things didn’t work out so it will go postal with her birthday goodies!

I bought some acrylic frames at Michaels and they are by Making Memories. I LOVE them. And I used them all up! LOL! Im in a little panic over it, but I know where I can buy more, so I think I’ll be ok! 😀

So, I saw the frame, and had my colors and then it just took off from there. The ribbon is black velvet by May Arts (Jody’s ribbon share).

The Rhinestones are by K & co. Debbi I want you to know I used ALL my purple Rhinestones just for YOU! Love ya!

I colored in the flowers with a purple glitter pen. Jason bought me a huge glitter pen assortment like 2 1/2 years ago. I was like Um, yeah those are cool. Thinking what am I gonna do with those, and well can I tell ya, I love them! He got them at Sam’s Club. Must HAVE!!!!

The image was colored with my Prismacolor pencils, gamsol and blending stump. Isn’t it just so purty???

Thanks for looking-

This was me Saturday after a shopping trip in RI for a stamp and bead expo. I had fun and met some cool friends from SCS!  My sad face was because my pockets were empty! No more MONEY!!! I challenged my PSF’s to use everything they purchased this week! I swear I have used some fo my stuff but can’t post it- but will get to share soon!

If you want to see some of MY eye candy you can go see a Mother’s Day card by me HERE, along with my cards story! Leave a comment and let me know wht you think!

AND

 I’m so sorry for my abscence. Today was INSANE! Alexa’s para (teachers aid) started today, she had a nurse visit (no word on her counts yet!), mulitple therapies, my computer shut down, the oil guy came, my kids were killing eachother (seriously Alexa has a nice black eye! , and I was attempting to stamp cause Ihave deadlines!

Did you notice my NEW BLOG BANNER?? Do you not LOVE it?! Beth (aka My Precious) made it just for me! She worked closely with me and listened to every detail I wanted. Im extatic over it! It is just SO me! My birthday is Thursday so it came just in time.

Well first I think I should announce the winners of the card and MYTIME MAIL! Selections made by computerized random selector- PLEASE email me your addresses!

MYTIME MAIL was #31 Alex (aka sillybirds) who writes

Okay, this is so much fun, ha ha

1. I live in beautiful Dorset, United Kingdom by the beach!!! yipeee
2. I have three beautiful girls, 3, 7 and 9
3. I have been with my only ever boyfriend and now husband for 19 years
4. I used to be a pampered chef consultant but prob due to the fact I hate cooking did not last past about 10 shows!!!! he he
5. I am addicted to Coca Cola (not the fat free variety either, yikes) which probably accounts for all the extra lbs I have accrued over the years
6. I am also addicted to SCS and stamping and I cannot get enough and just don’t have enough money, like most of us poor stampers
7. I simply cannot wait until Stampin Up hits out shores quite how much it will all be or how it will work over here is still a mystery but I am soooo excited

Thanks for such a great treat – hugs to you all xx

The card winner was #3 Beth who wrote-

hi Lauren – these are both very cute cards! your photo setup is very cool and your photos are very professional looking – hmmm, could i get so lucky as to find a setup like that for myself on ebay? hmmm. now will have to start looking. thanks for sharing more of your great creations! i’d love to have one of those cards for my very own.

have a great weekend –

Beth (mommy to a busy 3 1/2 year old)

I have a ton to post but its getting late so PROMISE tomorrow is EYE CANDY!

And later in the week more MYTIME MAIL!

 Wow! Its already Saturday! I just got this set from My Favorite Things called “You Take The Cake”. Its so cute! You can never have enough birthday image.  Kim at MFT stamps is hosting a contest! Check it out! You could win 3 FREE sets from her store. Way cool-

Now, its time for a sketch from my book! I am in love with this combo of colors, and challenge you to give them a try!

Blush Blossom, cool caribbean, cameo coral, certain celery.

Now for the sketch- Here is the original.

Now you can see a descent difference in that one and this one. YOU may not even see where the inspiration came from! LOL! But again, its all about inspiration, not always the exact CASE.

I moved the bow from the bottom to the top so it would look like a present. I then put the tag on the opposite side of where the flower was. Instead of a stitched layer at the top, I moved the interest to the bottom, by using my cuttlebug birthday corners. In the original the corners were pierced. I also used my cuttlebug for the tag. Since the stamps are clear it was easy peasy to make the sentiment stack, instead of being a line that says “Make a Wish”

I LOVE the acrylic frame. I got it at Michaels the other day, along with the ribbon. I though it was a perfect accent. In the original card I used a metal edge frame instead.

I hope you have fun trying it out- don’t forget to link it here so we can all see what you do with it!

Wow! I have had a CRAZY week. Design team stuff sure has been demanding lately, but- can I confess I LOVE every minute of it. Well almost every minute. I have been working on Christmas submissions! HELLO! I’m trying to get rid of the snow, and here I am stamping Christmas items and singing Walking in a Winter Wonderland! WHERE ARE MY FLOWER STAMPS!!!

So, in between submitting, I got an email from Christine yesterday telling me I was tagged! The goal is to write 7 things you want people to know about you!

So in no order I want to say

1) I love my SCS peeps, loyal PSF’s and readers. I am addicted to browsing SCS! BADLY! First thing I do in the AM (after I sip my coffee, and last thing I do before bed-well sometimes)

 I have met SO MANY amazing people through stamping. You are all like family to me in some ways. Thanks for checking in regularly and ALL the kind words you send me. I enjoy learning about each of YOU as well, so instead of me tagging someone else- I tag YOU!

IF you want MYTIME MAIL you need to respond to this post, by telling me 7 things about YOU! I will pick a random winner Sunday evening at 7pm eastern time.

2) I have a shopping/stamping addiciton. Seriously. I am an online shopping addict! It runs in my family. I love to get mail-not just any mail, happy mail. If I realize I dont have anything coming I panic! Then hit submit somewhere. I love waiting for my goodies. I think thats why I shop so much. And no Mr. Brown is not HOT, nor is my mailman. And since most days I run in the shower just before dinner I would say its definitely not because I want to run into ANYONE! LOL!

3) I have a “touch” of OCD. While my house is not the most spotless, I will notice if the littlest thing is out of place. Turn my salt shaker a hair, and I will notice-ask my husband. I wish it wasn’t true but I inherited it from my mother. Although I have RELAXED alot! Its still hard to shake. Thanks mom! My son Noah has it too! GREAT! I have to make sure the4 house is clean several times a day. CRAZY! I vacuum at least twice-

4) I wear mostly black and brown. I have no idea why. I just notice that I do. Open my closet, and its full of black and brown. And jeans. I only wear jeans- Maybe because its slimming!

5) I haven’t cut my hair (besides a trim) since I was 12! My hair has been long since then. Never shorter than a few inches past the middle of my back. Usually its to my waist. I look awful with short hair. My hair was long-to my waist when I was 12, my mom chopped it to my shoulder, and LAYERED it! OMG! That year of photos makes me cringe! That day I swore my hair would NEVER be short again! And it hasn’t. Also another FUN fact-my hair was straight till my mom chopped it off! After that it got curly! (IMAGINE: short, layers curly hair-oh the horror) Now I have naturally curly long hair. It also got darker as I got older, and now I dye it! Yes I admit it I dye it-so what!

6) If I could eat anywhere it would be at either TGIFridays or Olive Garden! Im so not high maintenance. I LOVE both of those places. One of my most favorite food I NEVER get to have is Greek vegetables! OMG! Love them! I also love italian food, and seafood. Since meeting Jason I rarely get any seafood!

7) I use to bite my nails as a child. My dad always said it was so gross and no guy would ever date me if I kept biting my nails. He offered to pay me $250 if I stopped for 2 weeks, and grew just a little white on my nails. I could not bite ONE single nail. I was so motivated for the money that I did it! AND he actually paid me! Since that time I have not bitten my nails! I do however, pick at the sides when Im upset-you know like hangnails-I know really gross and too much info. You should have seen my hangnails when Erik and I had court (my ex-mistake aka Alexa’s father) and when she was in the hospital! OMW!

STAY TUNED for tomorrow! Saturday Sketch challenge!

Your turn!

Now that “I” am offically a concept designer I thought it would benefit me to have some “professional” lighting. Part of the buisness is the ability to take an excellent photograph that captures the accurate colors, details and elements of your hard work (aka finished card or project). A poor photgraph can be the difference between a YES or a NO when submitting, or even posting online. I really didnt put much thought into my photos until about 6 months ago-maybe! When I noticed what I was drawn to cards/projects that had nice backdrops in their photos, not the excuse the cat sticking its head out of the lower right hand corner cards! LOL! So I began to try it, and VIOLA! You did too! LOL! You all began to comment more.

So, that brings me to this funky little set up you see here.

I was in contact with an editor from a magazine. She requested a few items from me (Can I get WAHOOOOO!), and I had a tight deadline. Well, by the time the project was done, my natural light was too! I take my photos by my window-so dreary days, and too much sun can cause MAJOR photo issues.

Anyway, once that happened I knew I needed something to take better photos. Lets face it people NO PROJECT looks good with your kitchen light and flash from your camera! Its like the OB-GYN. You dont mind getting naked in front of your significant other but you don’t want him seeeing you under the big’ol inspection light-KWIM? Sorry little off track-

I remembered some stampers discussing photo boxes and things like that a wile back, but they were like over $100! Um, yeah I have stamping stuff I need to buy this weekend so that was NOT an option!

So I hopped on Ebay! I found this photo box called a “soft box”. I paid $12.99!!! There are 4 color backdrops-white, black, blue, and red- included. It folds up all small, nice and neat, and goes into a bag. What they don’t tell you is HOW to fold that sucker back up. So since I opened it it stayed that way. I also cannot collapse those kid tents that pop up either. Must be the blonde in me. I also have NO PATIENCE for things like that.

There is also a front that velcro’s on, with a slot for you to put your cameral through.

What does that mean? No GLARE!!! I photographed a clear box, and had NO problem getting a perfect photo.

My photo shows HOW you set it up. I bought the lighting seperately. Also on Ebay for $10.95!!! Usually lighting looks like it will run you the big money-not so much the photo box. I got lucky cause a wman bought a photobox “kit” and didn’t need the lights!!!

 These prices were before shipping which was around $10 each. Now I have a professional “studio”. At like quater the cost of most. Plus saving myself the aggivation of no sun, and being able to take photos any time of day is priceless.