Hand Stamped By Lacey

Sorry, no card today...

I just wanted to say sorry for not posting anything new. I am getting ready for a garage sale tomorrow and I have been doing nothing but organizing old baby stuff!! I have been working on a few things so I hope to have some time to post something over the weekend.

In the mean time, pray for me...my husband is not available to help with the garage sale tomorrow so I will be on my own with two young kids to keep an eye on. My biggest challenge will be keeping my 3 year old son out of the toys!! Everytime I try to put the toys in a pile, he keeps going through them and playing with them. Of course, he never played with them except for when I want to get rid of them!!

Wish me luck!!!

~Lacey

Pop-Up Card and sort-of sketch

I needed to make a Birthday Card for a friend in the neighborhood who is spending her birthday in the hospital recovering from hip surgery. I only had 20 minutes to make the card so I thought I would start out with Amy's sketch today. Unfortunately, the image I wanted to use was too wide. Here's the sketch anyway...

I decided to turn the card landscape (or horizontal) and had to eliminate the sentiment on the outside. I didn't have time to play with it anymore otherwise I could have added some more embelishments. So I went with this layout instead. This follows the same card theme and similar colors as my other recent Bella cards here, here and here.

I used Javabellas for the image embossed in black. I colored them using SU ink (pretty in pink, certainly celery, and Creamy Caramel) and aqua painter. Then I highlighted the images with my SU markers. I inked the image with Pink distressed the edges and matted it onto Certainly Celery with the edges roughed up. I added a scrap of Pretty in Pink to go with the sketch which I dry embossed with my cuttlebug and distressed the edges. The DP background paper is from AC Moore in the single sheet section. I embossed the DP with my new Swiss Dots embossing folder then distressed the edges. The card base is Pretty in Pink.

Someone in my stamp club asked me if I could make a pop-up card for this month. At the same time, Julie made a pop-up card tutorial on her blog (I swear my friend asked the day before Julie posted it...what perfect timing). Thanks, Julie!!

Anyway, we made a Father's Day card at our club last night, and I will try to post that tomorrow. I already had one of the inserts cut and scored so I used it to make this a pop-up card. I gave her a giftcard for a present so this is a gift-card-holder-pop-up-card (also designed by Julie here).

This is what the inside looks like when you open it up...

Here is a side view...

I hope she liked it as much as I do! And I love the gift card holder pop up idea, too. Thanks again, Julie...you are the bomb. However, I need to stop checking your blog :-( While searching for the pop-up with the gift holder to link, I found this post!! Darn it...I think I accidentally copied ANOTHER one of your ideas here!!! I swear, I didn't mean to steal another one :-( That's what I get for blog hopping, and that's what you get, Julie, for being so good...sorry I didn't give you credit for that one :-(

~Lacey

Look what I got!!!

Look what my hubby got me for Mother's Day in addition to a day at the spa!! I can't wait to use it. Hopefully my pictures will be much nicer. I have poor lighting in the area where I stamp so sometimes my camera is blurry because it has a hard time focusing with the lighting.

Anyway, I don't have anything new to share today. I have been  out most of the morning and I am getting ready for a garage sale this weekend. I can no longer have children and I closed my daycare so we are getting rid of all the baby stuff...and I have a LOT of stuff!!!

I hope to have a card to share with you tomorrow.

~Lacey

Graduation Money Card

My friend needed a graduation card for a friend of hers who is graduating from high school. Their school colors are Dark Purple and Gold so this is the color combination I came up with.

It uses Beate's weekend sketch from a few weeks ago. I wanted to play along with the sketch challenge, but was engulfed in those Teacher's Appreciation cards and gift boxes so I didn't have a chance to finish the card until now. I liked this layout because I wanted the card to be a money holder card so the longer card works great...there's no better gift for a grad than money!!

I used Elegant Eggplant for the card base. The grad hat in the background (is also known as, but is not really well known, a "Mortarboard" ...I have to thank my husband for that usless piece of information) is from a retired SU Hostess Set. I embossed the hat with clear embossing powder randomly on the background then inked up the edges with the Eggplant ink pad.

I used the larger hat from "Year After Year" embossed in Gold onto Very Vanilla CS. I inked up with edges with Barley Banana, roughted up the edges, then matted it to Eggplant with the edges roughed up. That piece was mounted with dimensionals off centered onto Barely Banana matted with More Mustard both with the edges roughed up.

The sentiment on the right was created with 3 stamp sets. "Congratulations" is from SU retired Hostess set "Warmest Regards". I got the inspiration for the "Grad" with the hat from the SU set "Great Grads". I thought that set was cute, but I only have a Kindergartener Grad right now so I didn't think I would use the set enough. Therefore, Grad is stamped using "Defining Alphabet" set. That set is supposed to be double mounted with a different upper and lower case letter on each side of the block (Aa, Bb, etc). However, I cut the Upper and Lower letters appart and mounted the lower letter onto the side of the block so it's easier to ink up only 1 letter at a time. The hat is the same one used on the background, I just only inked up the hat portion with versamark. Everything is embossed in gold.

**Tip: Move quickly when embossing different elements at the same time using versamark to ensure the versamark does not dry too quickly to hold the embossing powder.**

I didn't get the letters lined up totally straight, but I think it looks a little playful crooked.

On the inside, I wanted to create a pocket to hold money.

I copied the idea from a Christmas Card I received from one of my friends Rebecca (who is also a SU Demonstrator...we have the same upline). I absolutely love this card.

She added a strip of DP on the bottom of the inside of the card to hold a picture of her family (for privacy purposes, I have cut out the picture of her family).

For my card, I actually cut my card base extra and scored a section for the money holder. So, the base of the card was cut 8 1/4" x 9". I scored it at 4", then again 4" which left a 1" flap that I could folded and attached the sides with Sticky Strip (Redline) tape. I inked up the edges of the flap with the Eggplant ink pad. It hold a check or a dollar bill great.

Here is a template for the card base with the flap for the money holder (click on picture for a larger view)...

This design would also be great for a birthday or wedding card or any occassion that you would like to send money.

So, what do you think? Thanks for stopping by.

~Lacey

For You...

...on Mother's Day. Just a quick post today for all Mother's out there...this flower is for you.

I wanted to play along with Amy 's Friday card sketch.

This cute little fairy is named Eloise Greengrass from Stamping Bella. I embossed her in black then colored her in with SU ink and aquapainter then highlighted with SU markers. Then I added Dazzling Diamonds for a little bling (see picture below for the bling). I inked up the edges with pretty in pink, then matted her on Certainly Celery with the edges roughed up.

For the circle portion of the sketch, I used a scalloped circle in Pretty in Pink cut and embossed with my Nestabilities.  I used SU Regal Rose ribbon for the verticle strip on the sketch, but I left out the horizonal bar off. The background DP is from A.C. Moore in the single sheet section (I don't know who makes it) which I dry embossed with my new Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing folder. I added 2 SU pink brads to fill space in the bottom right. The sentiments is from a retired set.

Here is a close up of the glitter...

I hope  you have a wonderful mother's day.

~Lacey

Can you say BUSY?!!!

I have been sooooo busy this week that I could scream!! I had to make 90....yes 90...cards!! This is teacher's appreciation week so I wanted to make a boxed  set of 10 cards for each of my kids' teachers and a set for both my mom and my mother-in-law!!

I chose a simple design that I posted here earlier. It is very easy to make....except that I chose to make a scalloped border...using my corner rounder punch!!! Each card has 11 punches!!! Can you say "Ouch"?! My fingers are raw from punching!! I just puched, and punched and punched, but I got them all done. I have since ordered the new fiscars scalloped punch from Amazon.com (I hope they have it in stock...they have not notified me yet that it is on backorder so I keep my fingers crossed).

This is a picture of only 40!!! The other 50 I gave out yesterday so I didn't have a picture of all of them at the same time.

For the box, I used the template from my tutorial here. The image on the card is raised with dimensionals, plus the knot is also raised, so 10 cards with 11 envelopes (I usually include an extra envelope for any mess-ups) were too large for even my Large Box. Therefore, I had to adjust the dimensions on the box base (the lid is the same). The box base was cut 12"x10 1/2" (adding an extra inch to both sides). Then I scored 3" from each side (which added 1/2" total to the height of the box).

It's great to see their faces when they get their gifts, but let me tell you....I am glad they are done!!! Now to fill some orders...

PS, do you like my photo backdrop?! I guess I need to get one of those photo tents, huh?! Thanks for stopping by!

~Lacey

Teacher's Appreciation

This week is teacher's appreciation week at my kids' school. Each day we are doing something special for them. On monday, the room mom made them baskets full of baked goods and sweets. On tuesday, each student gave the teachers some flowers. On wednesnday...he ate through 3 plums, but he was still hungry...sorry, wrong story!! My daughter, who is in Kindergarten, has been reading "The Very Hungry Caterpiller" on her own a few times a day. I am so proud of her reading this year!

Back to the post... On Wednesday, each child is bringing in a card for the teachers!!! A Card? I can do cards!!! Yeah!!!

I love the little angels from High Hopes Rubber Stamps and "Mary J" is just about the sweetest looking angel. Each of the stamps at High Hopes are sold separately so you can pick and choose which ones you want. However, each month they have a bundle of the month. These stamps were part of a bundle for March. This month they have the cutest Elephant.

My daughter has 3 teachers, my son has 2 teachers, and I always do something for the Director and Assistant as well so I needed to make 7 of these cards (I made an extra "just in case").

Onto the card...

I started by stamping the blackboard with the desk (one large stamp) onto Papertrey Ink Stampers Select White CS. I colored it in with SU ink and aquapainter then highlighted the areas with the markers (the blackboard is done with marker). Then I embossed the angel onto Select White CS and colored her in. Now, I knew I wanted to pop her up on dimensionals, but since she wasn't going to be matted, I wasn't sure if she would warp with only one layer on the dimensional (has that happened to you? You cannot mount one layer of SU Whisper White...it's too thin). So, I had some thin coasters that I got from All That Scraps. I was thinking I would make Mary J as "altered chipboard". I roughly cut out the images then glued them to the coasters.

***Tip: Stampers Select White and thin coasters are just about too thick to cut out well! I have done this combination before, but I cut out the cardstock and the coaster separately then glued them together AFTER they were cut. That way is much easier to work with.

I used Bashful Blue for the card base with a mat of Cutie Pie Stripped DP (roughed up the edges with my sissors). I think the ending result was the cutest card ever (of course, since I say that for every card...he he)!

One of the cards is slightly different. Besides the fact that Mrs. Sheila is black so I watercolored her different, I made a mistake on her card after I had put everything together. So I stamped another desk, colored it in, then cut it out and placed it over the original desk. The final result is awesome, but man, what a hard card to put together!! A lot of coloring and cutting! Compare this picture to the 2nd one on the post to see the difference with the desk. I really like this one better, but it is a lot more work.

Lastly, as I may have posted before, my daughter Ansley LOVES to stamp with mommy. So she had to make her own cards for the teachers. She  likes to make her cards "exactly like mommy's". I cut out the card stock, gave my HUSBAND the stamps and ink along with one of my cards to copy and headed out for a hair appointment. While I was gone, this is what she came up with all by herself...

What do you think of her cards? Remember, I was not home to help her...only my husband and a card to copy. He said he cut out  the angels for her because it was getting late. But she stamped and colored everything in all by herself. She also chose the colors. She is 5 1/2 years old, but I see a budding stamping demonstrator on our hands!! What do you think?

Happy Teacher's Appreciation Week, Mrs. Yolanda!! I know you are reading :-) Thank you so much for all that you did for Ansley this year. You are truly a blessing to her and our family!

~Lacey

Soccer Coach

Saturday was my daughter's last soccer game. She plays in an "under 6" division (4-6 year olds). This is her 2nd season. Although they don't keep score....her team was the only undefeated team!!...but we're not keeping score. One of the player's father owns a pizza restaurant (Nicky G's in Downtown Jacksonville, FL) so they opened the restaurant JUST for the team for our end of season party. Each of the kids got to make their own pizza...how fun is that?!

I wanted to make Thank You cards for the coaches and the team mom's. Now, before we go any farther, I want to point out that their team colors were a vibrate GRAY and BLACK!!! Can you say "dull"? So, it was a challenge to come up with something.

I used Basic Black for the card base, matted with So Saffron (actually, it could be Barely Banana...I forgot what I used and they are so similar) which I roughed up with my sissors.

I took another mat 1/4" shorter in Basic Gray. I embossed the Soccer ball from "Just Soccer" in black along with the sentiment from "Outlined for Fun". I roughed up those edges as well. Now for the image...

The team chose the name "Mighty Lions" for this season. At first I didn't think I had a lion stamp so I was frantically calling all of my neighborhood stampers to see if they had SU "Wild About You" then it hit me...I have a Lion....a "Lion and a Lamb" that is. When I purchased the Noah's Arc stamps for the book I made here, Tina from High Hopes Rubber Stamps always includes a "freebie" in your orders. This time, she included this cute Lion and the lamb set (For those of you who may not understand the meaning, the Bible refers to Jesus as "the Lion and the Lamb"). Anyway, this stamp was perfect for this card...nice and cute for the kids.

I embossed the Lion onto Whisper White, then colored him in with ink and an aqua painter and highlighted with SU Markers. I embossed another soccer ball onto white, cut it out, and covered the lamb. Here is a picture of the image before I added the soccer ball (cute little thing, huh?).

I am really happy how this turned out considering the "lively" colors of their uniforms! I'm glad they chose a Lion for their mascott instead of something like a worm!! LOL.

Here are a few pictures of Ansley at Soccer and the party...

Ansley and Daddy at a game.

Cupcake face...

Cosmobella and sketch

This week was new for me...I actually participated with another sketch! This is the Friday Card Sketch that Amy does every week. I really liked this layout.

I also needed a birthday card for my friend Crystal. A group of us went out to dinner and dancing Saturday night for her birthday.

I started by embossing Cosmobella onto Whisper White CS. I colored her in with ink and aquapainter and highlighted her with SU markers.

I inked up the edges with Pretty in Pink and matted it onto Green Galore that I distressed with my sissors (attached with dimensionals).

I had a pack of Marcella paper from K&Company that was on clearance at Target a few months ago (pack of 48 sheets for only $4.74)!! So I used a piece of pink DP (distressed with sissors). I copied the polka dot theme onto Gable Green card base using the dot from SU! "Mark the Date" stamped with Gable Green ink. I also inked up the edges of the card base with Gable Green.

The ribbon is SU Real Rose. I added an extra strip of ribbon to the knot while tying to give is the "x" pattern. It's a little harder to do than a normal knot, but I love the look...especially with the wider ribbon. I got that idea from Kendra; she does it on almost all of her cards.

Ps I took the picture before the "frey check" was able to dry all the way. I used frey check on my ribbon so they don't fall apart. But you have to be careful not to put too much on (I think I put too much on this one...but I think it dried eventually).

If you participate with the card sketch, send me a link so I can see! I hope you have a wonderful week...thanks for stopping by!

~Lacey

National Scrapbook Day

Today, May 3rd is National Scrapbook Day!! So I thought I would share a few scrapbook designs with you (well...half designs with you...both of these are the left side of a two-page layout...I'll explain more soon...). This is also the first time that I have participated with a "sketch"! Yeah, me!!

I found this scrapbook layout challenge on Alli Miles' blog so I decided to play along.

I posted here that I was making a scrapbook for my kids' school. I needed to make a layout for their "Pumpkin Patch" and I thought this sketch would work well so here it is (changed slightly)...

I used Creamy Caramel for the scrapbook base with a layer of Barely Banana. I stamped the Baroque Motifs swirl along the edge and bottom in Mellow Moss. I had seen a Thanksgiving card on the SU! Demonstrator website which used the pumpkin in the center with the swirl in the back like a true pumkin patch (however, if you own a little girl, this also highly resembles Cinderella's Carriage)!

I also stamped a few other pumpkins along the bottom making them off behind each other.

For the main image, I stamped "Dotted" background stamp multiple times in Barely Banana ink by using my Crop-a-Dile...I was not going to attempt to line up the dots 3 times across, and two times down...no way would I have gotten it straight!. I inked up the edges and added pictures instead of flowers (like the sketch).

For the "flowers", I actually used lightweight coasters! I had them lying around and thought they would work well die-cut and embossed with Nestabilities. The ribbon is from Michael's. I have not had a chance to finish the second page, but it will read "Patch" to complete "Pumpkin Patch". Since it's a school layout, I am not including any journaling. It is more for the Parent/Teacher Fellowship and school to use for recruiting members and new students.

The next layout is also for the school scrapbook. This is for the "Thanksgiving Food Drive". The right page of the layout is actually at the school right now. I forgot to take a picture. I originally had this one on display at school until someone told me I spelled "Thanksgiving" wrong....how embarassing!! I left the "s" out of Thanks!! I have since fixed it, but haven't brought it back to school yet.

Anyway, I  used "Voila" and "Voila to go" stamp sets. It's hard to see in the first picture, but the hogdog, spaghetti, and turkey stamps are randomly stamped in the background in Real Red ink onto Real Red CS. The ribbon is SU! black gingham ribbon weaved through the CS using the double rectangle punch.

I used "Print Pattern" background stamp since I thought it looked like diner floor tiles. I embossed it with black for added texture.

I also embossed the chef in black as well. Since this was a Thanksgiving food drive, I had the chef holding the turkey. The angle of the flash is reflecting off the chef making him look blurry...

Lastly, I wanted to include some scripture (since it's a Christian school). I used Matthew 25:40.

Happy National Scrapbook Day!! Thanks for stopping by!

~Lacey