Saturday, January 29, 2011

It's been one of those weeks

Sorry I haven't posted this week - the kids and I have been sick, we had another snowstorm (and another snow day) and life is just generally busy! But I have my project done for this week's challenge at Our Creative Corner. To close out the month Wendy Janson has a Valentine's Day 3-D project challenge.

I made this cute little box - it may or may not be a February club project - we'll see. The pattern comes from one available on the SU demo site - it's made with the Fancy Favor box, then the decorative edge is trimmed off and a lid added. I made a band of DP to wrap around the box and added a magnetic snap to keep it closed. The stamps I used are from Valentine Defined, and the colors are Baja Breeze, Melon Mambo and Chocolate Chip.

Be sure you visit the OCC blog to meet our new DT members - you will love their work, I promise! We're so excited to have them joining us on the team and we have lots of great challenges planned for the next few months. We hope you'll come and play along with us!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Colors of Nature

This week at Our Creative Corner we have a color challenge - but not your typical color challenge. Our host, Wendy Janson, asked us to use an analogous color scheme. What is that, you ask? Well, you can click the OCC link to read a bit more, but briefly, it's colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. I'm really not sure I did it entirely correctly, LOL, and I probably used more brown than I should have, but here's my card anyway. I couldn't decide what colors to use - I went back and forth between several combinations - and after struggling for a while I looked at my ink pads and my card idea just jumped out at me. I think the result turned out a lot like I imagined and I'm pretty happy with it.

I used a stamp set I haven't pulled out in ages - Inspired by Nature - with a yellow and green (OK, and brown) color scheme (and naturals ivory card stock). First I colored the flower stamp with So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz and Chocolate Chip markers, then I went back in with Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Early Espresso markers to try to shade a little bit. How well it worked, I'm not really sure... you can maybe see it best on the flower stems and leaves. I ended up cutting out the tiniest flower and adhering it on top of the other two since the whole image was just too big, but it really did need all three flowers for balance.

Behind the flower panel I used the grass image, and to go along with that, I made my first attempt at a brayered background with my four shades of yellow and green. I'm not sure it looks like it should, but I kind of liked it so I went with it. I sponged some Early Espresso around the edges and heavier on the bottom to simulate the ground. I also used a panel of striped So Saffron DP and put everything on an espresso card base. The sentiment is from Perfect Punches. I wanted some simple accents so I added a little paper piercing, and here's how I did my ribbon: I punched a partial circle with a 3/4" circle punch, attached it to the flower panel, punched a small hole through both, threaded a small piece of olive grosgrain ribbon through the hole, and tied a bow around it with linen thread.

Be sure you go check out the OCC blog to see all the creations from our design team - they are always fabulous. Then pick some colors and play along with us - Wendy gave us a fun challenge so please join in!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Stamping therapy

Today is the sixth day in a row that I've been home with one or both kids - partially due to winter weather, which we are getting more of today - and we are going a little stir crazy! So I really needed some stamping therapy. I loved the new color combo challenge at colourQ: Cherry Cobbler, Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, and white. I combined the colors with the Sweet Sunday Sketch and came up with this card. It almost makes me forget the snow that's falling outside my window... again...

I should be sure to say - this is a big card, 6" square. I flipped the sketch so I could use the long sentiment from Heard from the Heart. (And oops... I forgot the border strip on the sketch. Sorry!) The sentiment panel was layered over a Nesties circle (embossed with the Elegant Lines folder) and a panel of poppy DP. Then I put my flower on top with dimensionals. This beautiful bloom was made with the Build a Blossom stamp set from the mini catalog and the coordinating punch. Clearly I *need* some therapy since I made my flower with 10 petals - but it looks so full and gorgeous that way. Not something I would do with my club, but this is just for me, so why not? My one little disclaimer: I started this card before I saw that Sylvia from the colourQ DT used the same flower - hers is stunning so I wasn't sure I should even post mine... but I was already mostly done, so... oh well!

OK, it's time for me to see what else needs to get done on this wintry day. Thanks for visiting!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Pink Dogwood Pearls

It's time for another challenge at Our Creative Corner. This week our hostess, Wendy Janson, gave us a simple sketch challenge and told us to dress it up according to our personal style. Well, I don't know that I dressed mine up that much - I was in the mood for something a little more clean and simple. But since I often like CAS, and I do think it's a pretty card (which I also often like), I think it represents my style pretty well.


When I started out I was kind of stumped for what stamp set I wanted to use. Then I saw that Easter Blossoms was still out on my table from making my card kit the other day, and I decided the dogwood image was perfect to fill the large oval. I also kept the pink and brown color scheme but changed the colors to Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. I colored the dogwood flowers with pink marker and then added the tiniest adhesive pearls to the centers of some of the flowers. (You can see that better if you click on the photo to enlarge it.)

For the background I did something I don't think I've done before - I used designer paper and an embossed panel (done with a texture plate) in the same color. I really like the monochromatic look this achieved while still giving some contrasting texture. I also created my own sentiment by combining words from two separate stamps from the set On Your Birthday. All I needed was a Chocolate Chip marker and my Stamp-a-ma-Jig to perfectly align two words that were approximately the same size. For final touches I added Chocolate Chip satin ribbon and larger pearls - this time colored pink with a Sharpie. See, I knew that big multicolor pack of Sharpies I got at Costco would come in handy!

Thanks for stopping by today and be sure you go check out what the rest of the OCC has created. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Easter Blossoms card kit

For 2011 I have decided that I will continue to do card kits but not necessarily on the first of every month. It'll more likely be whenever I have the inspiration and the time, LOL. I will also make them available for longer than one month so you can purchase any active kit at any time.

Here is the first kit for the year, using the Easter Blossoms stamp set from the Occasions Mini. With this card kit you’ll receive complete instructions and all the consumable supplies needed to make 5 of each of these card designs – a total of 10 cards. The price of this kit is just $15, including envelopes.


If you purchase the kit, you will also have the opportunity to purchase the coordinating stamp set, Easter Blossoms, at 15% off retail price (tax and shipping not included):

Easter Blossoms wood mount, regularly $25.95, with purchase of kit $22.06
Easter Blossoms clear mount, regularly $18.95, with purchase of kit $16.11

The rest of the products used in making these cards are given in the list below. If you have all of these then you’re ready to go, but just let me know if you’d like to order any of these items. You can also use the kit to make your cards with the supplies you already own. Please note designer paper pattern and brads may vary depending on availability.

This kit will be available through April 30. You will receive your kit within two weeks of your purchase (probably less if no order from Stampin’ Up! is required).

Customers who are local to me and do not need shipping, click here to purchase the kit: Add to Cart

Other customers in the U.S., click here to purchase the kit with $3 for shipping: Add to Cart View Cart



If you need to order the stamp set or any other product, please contact me via email at loririder (at) verizon (dot) net. Sorry, I cannot sell these kits outside the U.S.

Additional Product List

• Early Espresso Classic Ink ($5.95) and Stampin’ Write marker ($3.50)
• Blush Blossom Classic Ink ($5.95)
• Crumb Cake Classic Ink ($5.95)
• Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen ($3.95)
• A Word for You stamp set ($21.95 wood mount/$16.95 clear mount)
• Corner rounder punch ($6.95)
• Eyelet border punch ($15.95)
• Paper snips ($9.95)
• Bone folder ($6.95)
• Stamp-a-Ma-Jig ($11.95 – optional)
• Stampin’ Dimensionals ($3.95)
• SNAIL adhesive ($6.95)
• Sticky Strip ($6.95)

I hope you enjoy the kit! If you are a demonstrator and would like to purchase the kit instructions, please click here. Thanks!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Hearts and Cupcakes

Are you up for a fun color challenge today? I was, and the SCS challenge was the perfect thing: Melon Mambo, Cherry Cobbler and Pretty in Pink. I made a Valentine's Day card for the Paper Players' most recent challenge. I kept it pretty simple and let my cute Create a Cupcake punches star on this card - and hey, since it's punches it also fits the Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge for this week. For the background I stamped cherry hearts using the Confetti stamp set, and the sentiment comes from Grateful Greetings. I wanted just a few little accents to polish it off, so I added some rhinestones, double scallop ribbon border punches (Tip of the Day: punch one strip, cut it in half, and glue one strip to each side of your panel) and a tag cut with the Big Shot and Lots of Tags.

I think that's it - I have lots more to do today, especially since we're supposed to get at least a foot of snow tomorrow and I bet the kids will be home from school. Hope you are enjoying better weather wherever you are - thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Vintage Bird

Well, I didn't really manage to follow my stamping resolution this week... better luck next week! For today I have my card for the Our Creative Corner challenge. We're being hosted this month by the fabulous Wendy Janson, and this week she has a fun chickadee inspiration challenge for us. We hope you'll play along with us!

For my card I picked the colors Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, Very Vanilla and Basic Black. I took my layout from the Friday Mashup sketch challenge and went with a vintage style with the Love Letter designer paper and Bliss stamp set, which will be available during Sale-a-Bration. I sponged the edges with black ink and created my bird with the extra-large bird punch, and since the sketch challenge called for using bling, I pulled out black rhinestones (retired from the holiday mini) and gave my bird a sparkly eye and added a flourish under my flowers.

Be sure you go check out all the samples from the OCC team - and then show us your own creation! Have a wonderful weekend!

Monday, January 3, 2011

My New Year's (Stamping) Resolution

Happy new year! I'm back from vacation with family and friends, which was wonderful - except that I didn't bring any stamps with me and now I feel like maybe my mojo didn't come back from vacation, LOL. But what better way to get back into the swing of stamping than to dive in and do a challenge. In fact, I've decided as one of my new year's resolutions, I'm going to try to do more challenges. I'd like to say it would be one a day, but I think that would be pushing my luck. Maybe three a week is a good goal. I'm going to give it a try and see how it goes!

I loved the Mojo Monday sketch for this week. I am finally ready to play with the new goodies from the Occasions Mini and Sale-a-Bration, which is good since the new mini goes into effect tomorrow! On this card I featured an image from the SAB set Punch Bunch. What better color for these little poppies (that is what they are, right? I'm no gardener! LOL!) than Poppy Parade, and the first two colors to pair it with that popped into my head were Old Olive and Early Espresso, so I went with it. This card has lots of dimension - and as a result it's very heavy! I used a mix of designer papers - the poppy is from the hostess pack, the espresso from the neutrals pack, and the olive from the Play Date collection. I also used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder for a bit more texture. The scalloped circle is a Big Shot die and I used the Circle Scissors Plus for the other circles. I embellished with just a touch of poppy ribbon and three olive brads.

That's it for today - I'm really happy to be back with my stamps and I'm looking forward to (hopefully) bringing you new creations more often!