The countdown begins

You might see less of me in the next few weeks. I will have to coordinate packing for my family and there are 6 of us! Today is the start of our vacation countdown. In two weeks our family is traveling to Italy and Greece. We are flying into Venice and getting on a ship, the Emerald Princess for 12 days. This is a trip that I have been dreaming about for years, and it's finally here. My husband is part Greek and his side of the family is traveling with us. I think that it will be so wonderful for his father to be in Greece with his sons and his grandchildren. I don't have any Greek stamps so I used some images that are Italian in nature. I figured we're starting off in Italy, so it's keeping in my theme. The stamps are from RubberStamp Ave, and the sentiment is from Rubber Romance.
I just love the color combo of vanilla and black. And I am very happy with the way that this turned out. Thanks for looking and have a wonderful day!
Smiles :)
Lorraine

Recipe
cardstock...Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Images... David & Italian Script from RubberStamp Ave, Travel from Rubber Romance, Weathered BG SU
embellies...brads, swirly thingies, sheer black ribbon, brads, word window punch SU

100 posts!

LOL! What could I have possibly had to share that i already have 100 posts. I guess that's why they call me Gabbie! When I go back and look at my earlier posts I just laugh. there are no comments and I Know for sure that no one else was visiting my blog except me! I even posted something on" to blog or not to blog.."

I did go into my dungeon studio and try to clean up a little so that i could sit down and work with some of my new stamps. The mess is just too much for me to handle.
As I was putting away my things Coco fell out of her folder and I decided to stamp her up! I think that the image is very sultry and I was trying to come up with a little story and a title for Coco ... like Coco meets client #10, or waiting for Eliot, but I didn't think that she wants to be associated with the mess that has taken place in NY.
The client #10 story would be something like this....
Client #10....Hello, is this Coco?
Coco... yes this is. I am available for $ 2400 an hour. How can i help you?
Client #10...well i heard all about you and thought i'd give you a call. Can you meet me at a Hotel in Washington?
Coco...are you a politician? I don't think i can handle any more clients in that field. too much press if you know what i mean. My last client left me in a pinch and I can't afford my apartment anymore...if i don't get another client soon, i'll have to move back with my mother. Maybe you could meet me in New Jersey?
Client #10...well maybe this isn't such a good idea.
Coco...Yeah maybe you're right.
So Coco still waits. Leaning on the fence waiting for client #10 who's got 80K to spare!
LOL!



(Can you believe what has happened!!!!! First of all I can't believe that his wife didn't miss 80K! Unbelievable! Imagine all the stamping supplies you could buy with that money! The comments that are being made in my house by my kids are comical. My older daughter says..."see, that's what happens when you're ugly...you have to pay for everything!"
My younger daughter asked about the lady standing next to him in all the news releases. I said that's his wife... My daughter said " I'd punch him in the head!" and I said, " i wouldn't be standing next to him! "
my son Stephen just keeps laughing....the whole thing is very sad!)

Back to Coco! I'm picturing her in Rome or Paris, somewhere very romantic waiting for her lover to arrive. He should be arriving soon! She's all dressed and ready to go. I know he's just going to love those fishnet seamed stockings!
I didn't really feel that she needed too many embellishments so I really kept everything simple. matted the image with black and gray paper and just added a swirly paper clip thingie with a little black sheer ribbon, the DP is by Basic Gray and is called Scarlet Letter.
Thanks for visiting!
Smiles :)
Lorraine

Chelsea's 18th is coming!

My oldest daughter, Chelsea will be 18 this Saturday. The day that she was born is still so vivid to me! Right after I delivered her the doctor put her on my stomach and she immediately pooped! I just looked at the doctor and said to him...Is this what i have to look forward too? we both laughed.
I made this card a little early...i have a very busy week. I am leaving on Sunday to go to Florida. I am meeting my sister there and we will be visiting with my father. He lives on the ocean and the view is amazing. I'll take pictures so that i can share them with you when i come back. I need to make some Valentines' Day cards before i leave! ugghhhh




this is another Rubber Romance Diva. The owner of the company sells them on a site called Etsy.com, her seller name is burnt cookie. Shipping is only $2 per order. (I am not affiliated with this company at all...just like to pass on a great deal when i can!)
I opened up another new pack of dp called berry bliss and started designing around the paper. I colored her in with su markers and some water coloring...and then sponged...i just love sponging. lol

Recipe:
Stamps: Rubber Romance, Nan & SU Whimsical Numbers
card stock: pretty in pink, white, close to cocoa, purely pom, & DP Berry Bliss
embellies: ribbon, prima flowers, baubles, stickles


It's warm here in NY. 62 degrees, but not a pretty day. i hope that where ever you are you have sunshine!
thanks for stopping by.
Lorraine

Cowgirls Have It.

I went into my dungeon to make a birthday card for my daughter. She is going to be 18 this saturday, but while cleaning up my desk i came across this sentiment from rubber stamp ave and decided to stamp a card using it. i am so happy with the outcome of this card! Carrie and some sass! LOL
i started off by picking out the dp i was going to use. i just had to open my new package of western sky from su. i used my su markers to color her in and also did a little bit of water coloring. lots of sponging and i fell in love!
i hope that you are having a wonderful day!
thanks for stopping by!
lorraine

recipe:
stamps: carrie from rubber romance, sentiment "cowgirls have it" from rubber stamp ave
card stock: du dp western sky, soft sky, blue bayou, river rock, white
ink: bb, river rock, blue bayou, soft sky, ruby red, creamy caramel
embellies: prima flowers essentials, bauble from m's, velvet ric rac ribbon from may arts

Thank Yous! Not Yet!

I sit down at my desk and attempt to make Thank you cards. Really, I do! What's the rule, you should send a thank you within 2 weeks? I just may have to go purchase some **wink** cause i'm having too much fun playing with these divas! my Rubber Romance girls keep calling to me, Use me, use me! Meet Gigi.
This image screamed for me to use my Scarlette Letter DP by Basic Grey. As soon as i saw her i had an image in my mind. I went to bed last night thinking of her and how i was going to do her up! I'm loving this girl...
I used my Janome Mini again. the more i use this machine the more i love it. it is so easy to use...and changing threads is a breeze.
Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Recipe:
Stamps: Rubber Romance Gigi
Cardstock: Basic Black, SU Basic Gray, White, Real Red & Basic Gray Scarlette Letter DP
Ink: Basic Black, real red
Embellies: satin ribbon, stickels, black sheer ribbon, red rhinestone, thread

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!
I can't believe that a another year has flown by. New Year's Eve was a quiet one in my house. My one son, Stephen has been sick, so my husband, my sister and I spent a quiet evening with him. We watched a movie and then we watched our local news station, to watch the ball drop. Our city had their own Times Square Celebration! It was exciting to watch our own ball drop on tv! 20,000 people were dancing in the streets of White Plains, New York. As soon as the ball dropped, there were fireworks. We stepped outside into my back yard and we could see the fireworks and hear the music.
I want to wish everyone a very happy new year. May your year be filled with success, good health, happiness and much creativity.
I've been attempting to make some thank you cards, but everytime i sit down to work I am drawn to my Rubber Romance Divas. Meet Sherri! This is my attempt at a color challenge over at SCS...using wild wasabi, elegant eggplant and so saffron. Thanks for looking!



Recipe:
Cardstock, white, wild wasabi, elegant eggplant, so saffron
Stamps: Rubber Romance...Sherri, Sentiment from MFT...Baby it's cold outside
Embellies: ribbon, mini janome, stickles and swirl cuttlebug folder

Cheap Wine and Small Diamonds

I just couldn't resist working with this Rubber Romance Diva. By the way, I am not affiliated with this company in any way! This Diva is Samantha, and doesn't she just have attitude? The saying is also from the Rubber Romance company. Thanks to Texas Jody Lynn, I finally figured out how to really showcase these divas. They need a little more room that a regular size card allows. The sentiment says Life is too short for cheap wine and small diamonds! Visit Jody's blog for some fantastic inspiration! She's a rock star to me!
Recipe
This is a 5 1/2 inch square card
Card Stock: Basic Black, Ruby Red, Vanilla, DP from Target
Ink: Basic Black, Ruby Red, SU Markers
Stamps: Rubber Romance Samantha and sentiment
Embellies: Sheer Black Ribbon, stickles, brads, rhinestone

Gossip Time

This is another stamp that i found in my stocking by Rubber Romance! It's called Gossip Time.
Recipe:
cardstock: choc chip, white, old olive, close to cocoa, basic gray Urban Couture
Stamps: Rubber Romance Gossip Time
Ink: SU markers
Embellies: stickles, prima crystal flower, SU ribbon, K&C Company purse sticker

Ally

This is Ally. She's a new Rubber Romance girl. I really love these images...

We had a terrific Christmas. The Sunday before Christmas, on the 23rd, i had my husbands family over. We were 38 people. It's my new tradition, and I've been doing it for the last 3 years. This way, there is no excuses as to why we all can't be together at the same time! It works out so well. The only glitch was that the Sunday before Christmas was actually the Sunday before Christmas! And on Christmas Eve i was celebrating with my side of the family at my house. So 38 people on Sunday, 19 on Monday and a mere 8 on Christmas day. I feel like someone beat me up. i'm exhausted...but i had a wonderful time celebrating all three days with family and friends!
As tired as i am, i just had to play with a new stamp that i found in my stocking! There were quite a few of them in my stocking so i expect in the next few days to be playing with these new girls.

Carries' Here!

***I just noticed that the dp is upside down. Ugghhh!***

I didn't think that i would be able to sneak down to my little studio with everything that i have to do for Thanksgiving, but today i said the heck with it and decided to work with a stamp that i had been waiting on. Carrie arrived last week and she's just been hanging out on my desk waiting for me. She was purchased from http://www.eclecticpaperie.com/rurounru.html

With her in mind i purchased some Basic Gray DP, it's called Urban. This card is a regular size card and i think that she needs something a little bigger. For now, it will have to do. She really had me perplexed! I finally came up with something that i am happy with. She's such a cool dudette. I sponged the background a little bit, added some ribbon and prima flowers...and used some of the dp as a photo corner. Thanks for looking.

L

And then Santa said....

Here's another version of the girlfriends on the bench. I'm starting to think Christmas! Thanks for looking! This stamp was purchased from EclecticPaperie.com

Girlfriends on a bench

I just got this stamp in the mail. I purchased this stamp from eclectic paperie....unmounted rubber romance. I've been waiting for this one and another named Carrie. Hopefully she'll arrive soon, she's a cowgirl and I can't wait to play with her! Getting back to the girlfriends... I always have a hard time with picking colors and this was no exception. I used the dp paper from SU ....au chocolate and worked around that. Enjoy! and thanks for looking!