The closing of the year

This will be my last post for 2010... hard to believe the year is almost over, isn't it? Todd and I have both been sick this week, and I'm not over what I have yet, but I did want to share this easel card that I made earlier this week for my club. One of my club members specifically requested doing an easel card and I was happy to comply!

I wanted to do something pretty and vintagey - is that a word? I got the color combination from the Color Coach: Blushing Bride, Early Espresso and Pear Pizazz. To make the image panel I used two stamp sets, Style Beautiful and Elements of Style. I layered lots of scrolls using generation stamping, then stamped the medallion on top and added a punched flower and some pearls. I sponged all the edges with Blushing Bride ink. For the bottom I made a row of the little accent with the Stamp-a-ma-Jig, then added a sentiment from Heard from the Heart and a scallop trim border. A few more pearls serve as the "stop" for the easel and that was it! I thought it turned out pretty, and my club members were impressed that it fits inside a regular envelope.

I want to wish everyone happy (and healthy) holidays - I'll see you in the new year!

Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge #42

For this week's challenge, we have a gorgeous set of Christmas coasters. Aren't they elegant? Of course, you don't have to use a holiday theme for your project - whatever this photo inspires you to create is perfect!

I pulled out a whole bunch of stamps for this card to create a collage-inspired look. The main image comes from the set Gifts of Christmas, and I embossed it in gold on naturals ivory card stock. Around the edge I added a few more poinsettias in Cherry Cobbler, plus I sponged the edges, then I layered the panel onto a piece of Always Artichoke that I sprayed with gold shimmer spray. To diffuse the sparkle I rubbed the gold spray into the cardstock with a paper towel. Once all that was done I didn't think the sentiment stood out enough, so I stamped it again and punched it out. For the background I used the swirl from Baroque Motifs, again gold embossed, along with a lot of seasonal words and phrases from several different sets. The final touch was a poinsettia made with the five petal punch - I scored the petals and leaves for dimension, sponged the edges, and used three gold brads in the center.

Be sure to check out the cards made by the rest of the Divine Divas for this challenge!

Anne

Chris

Julie

Hope you are inspired to come and play along. Just leave a comment here with a link to your card. We can't wait to see what you create! The keyword for uploading on online forums will be DDIC42.

Now, for some sad news - I have decided for several reasons that it's time to end my inspiration challenges. There is going to be a lot happening in my life next year, and although I am really going to miss bringing you inspiration pieces on a regular basis, it feels like the right time to call it a day. I want to thank everyone who has played along with us for these 42 challenges. We have appreciated your support and we'll miss sharing these challenges with you every two weeks. I also have to express my utmost appreciation for all the fabuous stampers who have served on the design team since we started the challenge. Your work has been wonderful and inspirational to me, week in and week out. And who knows... maybe we'll be back someday... Anyway, thanks for everything from me and the rest of the Divas. Many blessings to everyone!

Big Fun Flower Thanks

For this week's challenge at Our Creative Corner, our hostess, Sarah Gough, has a fun sketch challenge. I combined this challenge with the color combo posted at Create with Connie and Mary for this week: Rich Razzleberry, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive and River Rock. I love this combo - it's amazing! I confess I did alter the sketch just a bit since I couldn't bear to cover up the flower with my sentiment. I hope you'll forgive me. ;)

I chose to feature a new Big Shot die that will be available in the Occasions Mini that goes into effect in January. This die is called Fun Flowers, and it really lives up to its name - they are fabulous. After I cut out the three flowers, I added leaves that I made with the Blossom Petals punch that will also be available in the Occasions Mini. To add dimension I curled the flower petals with a bone folder and scored the leaves down the center. To the middle of the flower I added an antique brad. My background papers pull in the same colors with a mix of current and retired DP, and for the sentiment I used A Word for You on a rectangle cut with the clear rectangle Sizzlit. For final touches I added just a bit of paper piercing and three vintage brads - too bad they're retired because they match the antique brad perfectly!

Be sure you go see what the rest of the OCC team has made for this challenge - the creations are always fabulous! Then play along with us and show us your own work - we love to see what you come up with!

Altoid tin calendar kit!

I wanted to make a calendar with my club this month, and I really wanted to come up with something new. So here is my altoid tin calendar - I used supplies that I already had lying around, and I even have enough extra to offer this project as a kit so you can make your own!

Once you make up the kit, all the contents fit inside the tin and you can give it as a gift - or keep it for yourself!

You take out the months one at a time and use the magnets to hold the page to the front of the tin. Then the tin will stand up on its own on your desk - isn't it cute? And you can use the magnets long after 2011 is over - you could even cover over the numbers and give the tin to someone else with tags or cards inside.

I even decorated the back so that if it's on a desk and visible from that side, it still looks pretty.

These kits are $8 and available while supplies last, or through December 16. If you live in the Boston Metrowest area and want to arrange pick-up, click here:

If you are elsewhere in the U.S., I can ship the kit to you for a small additional charge. Click here:






Sorry, I can only sell these in the U.S. If you would like more than two kits, please contact me so I can send you a custom invoice.

The kit contains all consumable supplies needed for one calendar, including glass marbles, magnets, altoid tin, calendar, and all Stampin' Up! materials. You will receive complete instructions in an emailed PDF file. Additional supplies you will need:

Sticky Strip
SNAIL adhesive
Crystal Effects
Two-way glue pen
Corner rounder punch
3/4" circle punch

Please note: some prints from the Playdate designer papers used in the kits may vary, depending on availability. If you are picky about what prints you will get, please ask first - or you may be able to substitute a different designer paper pack. Just ask! I can answer any and all questions at loririder (at) verizon (dot) net. Thanks and happy holidays!

Christmas card buffet, round 3

I'm back with two more CAS Christmas cards from the card buffet - I'm also posting for the SUO challenge. This first card was a CASE from a card by Ilina Crouse (which I see she CASEd from Nichole Heady). I used the wreath from Northern Hearts, stamped in Garden Green, with white embossed snowflakes all over the Crumb Cake base. The top of the white panel was punched with the scallop trim border punch. I added an embossed sentiment from Many Merry Messages, a 1/8" Real Red taffeta bow, and three rhinestones I colored with a red Sharpie.

As long as we're feeling "krafty" (LOL) here's another card with a Crumb Cake base. For this one I used the bells from Bells & Boughs, colored with markers and cut out, then accented with Smooch. Behind the bells I used an Early Espresso scallop punch and a panel of Deck the Halls paper. I cut a strip of Always Artichoke textured card stock with the Tasteful Trim die to put behind the DP, then a simple sentiment banner made with Curly Cute finished off this card. I know I got this layout from Jen del Muro but I'm not finding the exact post right now.

I still have three more cards to show you, but no more time today, so I'll be back again soon to finish these off!

Christmas card buffet, round 2

I'm back with another card from the card buffet - and this one also works for the Clean and Simple bow challenge at SCS. This is the simplest card we made but I thought it was very pretty and elegant. First I cut the oval and frame from naturals ivory and Cherry Cobbler card stock, then I stamped the holly image from Peaceful Season (second and third generation) all around the outside of the oval. The gorgeous sentiment went right on top with Cherry Cobbler ink. Then we added a simple ribbon - Always Artichoke seam binding wrapped around the inside and taped to the front of the card under the oval. The bow was added separately with a glue dot. I finished off with a Very Vanilla button threaded with embroidery thread.

I'm off to finish a big proofreading project right now, but I'll post more of our cards soon! Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Card Buffet, round 1

Today I held my annual Christmas card buffet and it was a huge success! I had eight stampers come to make Christmas cards. I do 10 designs for the card buffet, and you've already seen two of them, so I thought I'd come and post the rest. I'll just do a couple at a time, though, so you'll have new cards to look at for several days!

Most of the cards seemed to be a hit. This one is actually a redo of a card I did last year for one of the DDIC challenges. This version is SUO, of course - the stamp is from Autumn Days, colored in Garden Green and Chocolate Chip, with circles cut from the Big Shot and Circle Scissor Plus. (Partway through we also discovered that the 2 1/2" circle punch is the perfect size, so we switched to using that instead.) I added striped DP, a sentiment from Sincere Salutations, a satin bow, and some adhesive pearls.

Here's one with a slightly less traditional color combination: Bashful Blue, Bravo Burgundy and Pear Pizazz. This was a loose CASE of this card by Lynn Put. I stamped the ornament (from Tags Till Christmas) in those three colors and put them over pear DP. The background was partially embossed with the polka dot folder, leaving room for the sentiment at the bottom. I finished off with 1/8" taffeta ribbon (it's Old Olive, which is close enough) and pearls - again - don't you love these? The sentiment on this one is from Many Merry Messages, which has so many great holiday options.

I'll stop there for today - come back to see more Christmas cards all week!

Regal Rose Red Christmas

It's time for another challenge from Our Creative Corner and since it's December we have a new hostess - Sarah Gough. We have a color challenge for you to kick off the month: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, kraft (Crumb Cake) and Very Vanilla. And it's not just a color challenge, but also a challenge to use these colors for a holiday card. Sounds fun, right?

I decided to combine the challenge with one of the 10 cards I needed to design for my Christmas card buffet that's happening this weekend. I'd seen this card from Chat and borrowed a few ideas from it. I thought it would be a great design for these colors. I also played along with the SCS inspiration challenge - my inspiration was this cute ornament.

My ornaments are from the stamp set Tree Trimmings, and I topped them off with a strip of Regal Rose DP and a punched border with the scallop ribbon border punch. The rest of the card is simply a few layers, a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes, and three Rose Red brads.

I know I can't wait to see what the rest of the team has done with these fun colors for the holidays - so be sure you go check it out, and then play along with us!

Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge #41

It's December and time for another inspiration challenge from the Divine Divas! This month's challenges will be holiday images, but don't feel obligated to make holiday cards - anything goes! For this week we have a cute cupcake kit full of fun colors and cute Christmas icons.

I have a Christmas card buffet this weekend and still needed one more card design, so I went the Christmas route for this one. I have to say, I think it turned out really cute. I stamped four images from Jolly Bingo Bits - looky, that set has everything you need for Christmas, including the four items shown in the cupcake kit! My colors are Riding Hood Red, Wild Wasabi, Baja Breeze, and Chocolate Chip. I was determined to find some bitty scalloped circles to go with my 1" circle punches, and wouldn't you know - the Birds & Blooms die set has the perfect one! I layered them onto several squares, then for the background I added some Candy Lane designer paper (which is unfortunately sold out!), retired ribbon (shh... it just had to be red and this is all I had), and a sentiment from Word Play. Can you see in the photo that the little ornament in the sentiment fits the 1/2" circle punch? So cute!

Be sure to check out the cards made by the rest of the Divine Divas for this challenge!

Anne

Chris

Julie

Hope you are inspired to come and play along. Just leave a comment here with a link to your card. We can't wait to see what you create! The keyword for uploading on online forums will be DDIC41. Have fun and look for the next challenge on December 16!

Kits still available

For this month's card kit I'm going to continue to offer the November kit, which you can use to make two great cards (one for Christmas) with the Circle Circus stamp set. Click here for more details on this kit.

I also still have the Day of Gratitude kit available - click here for this card set kit that makes a lovely gift.

Both of these kits will be available through December 16, or in the case of Day of Gratitude, while supplies last.