Hostess Club's First Project

Welcome to Wednesday! Last night was our Hostess Club get-together, and we had a great time. :) This is one of our projects; I love all the texture I was able to get in this simple card! :)

The colors are Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, and Whisper White. The "thankful for you" is from the free set I got in October for hosting a party over $300. I LOVE free! :D

Think of the different color combinations you could come up with - for all seasons! I really think this works for fall, and since we used stamps that say "thankful" on the outside and "grateful" on the inside, it's a Thanksgiving card! :)

OK, I'm outta here! SO much to do, so little time to do it in!!! :) Have a wonderful day - and make sure to make the time to stamp something!!!

Get Started on Your Thanksgiving Table!

It's FRIDAY! Have you had a good week? Big plans for the weekend?? I've got big plans - tomorrow's my Hostess-Only Appreciation Luncheon; the lovely, WONDERFUL women who have supported my business by hosting parties in the past year will come to my house, be treated to wonderful (if I do say so myself!) food, and we'll spend some time making exclusive projects that I'll never make anywhere else. :) Watch for pictures!

Anyway. :D

We're almost at the end of October, which means we're in full holiday swing: first Halloween, if you celebrate it, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Year's. PHEW. So why not get a head start while you can? This is a super-simple place card for your table; a little time now makes it super simple then!

I cut a piece of Baked Brown Sugar to 4"x4", and folded it in half. The Designer Series Paper is Polka Dot Parade; I love the colors in it, and I've used this paper for Christmas and Thanksgiving projects, so it's really versatile. :D The Pumpkin Pie piece I cut at 3.75"x1.75"; the Daffodil Delight piece is cut at 3.5"x1.5". The Very Vanilla (the ripples you see? those are reflections from the plastic covering my table!) is cut at 1"x3". I wrote my name on it with my Baked Brown Sugar Stampin' Write marker.

The leaf is from Gently Falling; I embossed it on Baked Brown Sugar with pewter EP and cut it out, Then, I crumpled it a bit and put some Baked Brown Sugar ink directly onto it. It's mounted onto the place card with a Dimensional.

Tada! :D You could do a lot of these if you needed to, in just a little bit of time. They will add a nice splash of color, too - but it's up to you to decide who has to sit next to Uncle Sy. :D

OK, I'm outta here! Lots to do! :D Have a WONDERFUL day, and be sure to make the time to stamp something.

I think you'd LOVE MDS!

Hi, y'all! BOY, is it hot out there today! I'm so glad I'm done running around for the day. PHEW!!!

Now, then. Those of you who haven't purchased MY DIGITAL STUDIO may not be aware of how awesome the program itself is; it also is constantly being improved and updated. Lately, there were a few new items added to the project pool; I am in love with the TRIFOLD card!

This is the first one I made. I also took a photo of the "background DSP" versus a piece of card stock so you could see how the colors line up.

Now the colors look different because of the way it's standing by itself; the light's hitting the panels at different angles. And just so you know: you can decorate the BACKS of the card as well.

I had such fun designing this card! It's almost fall! YEA! (Someone PLEASE tell the thermometer that, would you???) There are stamp sets available for MDS that are retired, as well as from the mini catalogs and current IB&C. Accessories ribbon, stitch lines - it really IS a studio for designing just about anything you want. It's NOT just for scrapbooking!! :)

Now, then. I still recommend that you print through Stampin' Up! if you want TRUE color and page size, but I'm pretty impressed with the way our new Kodak printer handled this one. Here's a picture of the More Mustard card stock with the card corner, so you can see the colors against each other:

It was also printed on Very Vanilla versus Whisper White, so that's probably a little of the difference.

OK, it's time for me to get busy!! OH, I forgot! There's a GREAT support site for MDS here, and there's an online "year to date" catalog of all the available releases for MDS here.

NOW it's time for me to get busy. :D Have a WONDERFUL day, and be SURE to take the time to STAMP something! AND COME STAMP WITH ME - check out my class schedule HERE!

A Thanksgiving Gift for YOU! :)

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! :D As my way of letting you know how much I appreciate you, I put together this tutorial for a Top Note Pumpkin; I taught this a couple of years ago at a Thanksgiving Stamp Camp, but have had a request - and got it cleared as OK to share with my most loyal class attendee (THANK YOU, Mary!! :) ) - for this tutorial. So, here it is, for all of you to have fun with. :) There are LOTS of photos - and don't forget, you can click on any of them to see them the size I uploaded them. :)

You will need:
--Big Shot and your acrylic cutting pads and platform (came with it, if you got your Big Shot from Stampin' Up! :D)
--6 pieces of Pumpkin Pie card stock, cut to 5-1/2"x4-1/4"
--Pumpkin Pie ink pad (doesn't matter what size!)
--sponge
--2-way glue pen
--glue stick
--bone folder
--Sweetest Stems embosslit
--Top Note die
--large oval punch
--scraps big enough for project of Chocolate Chip and Garden Green





First, cut all six pieces into Top Note die cuts. I did three at a time!









(Pause, and admire your work so far. :D )











Now, start folding; you're folding them in half the short way. (I think you know what I mean!)










Do all six!










Now, take your ink and sponge, and start sponging all around the edges of a Top Note die cut.










Go all the way around. You don't want to just EDGE it, but sponge into the card stock.











Yes, do all six! If you aren't careful - which you don't need to be! :D - it won't take you too long at all. :D








Don't forget to close your ink pad up! :D









Now, take the glue stick and glue one half of a Top Note die cut.













Put glue stick on the matching half of another Top Note die cut.









Clean up any glue stick that might come out around the edges. :D










Glue three of the die cuts together. Then glue the other three together.






See? Like this!







Now, put the Garden Green card stock into the embosslit and run it through.






Take it out and separate it from the rest of the card stock - that's trash, now.








Punch out the large oval from the Chocolate Chip card stock.










Now, use the punch to take "bites" out of the oval; they should be different bites, not symmetrical.












Now, put glue stick on one half of the Top Note die cuts, and position the embosslit die cut first.










Now, put the stem on. Doesn't need to be straight or anything. :D But you can see that the stem is not all the way on the die cuts. That's the way to do it!








Now, put glue stick on the matching half of the other stack of Top Notes.





Put away your glue stick! :) Get out that 2-way glue pen, and put plenty of glue on one side of the total pumpkin stack. And walk away. :D





Do NOT stick the rounds of the pumpkin together until that 2-way glue is COMPLETELY dry. It's now re positionable, and you can unfold to store from year to year! (I'd put a piece of waxed paper on top of the glue....)





Play with the shape until you're happy with it! :D




I'd LOVE to hear what you think - and what you use your pumpkins for! :) Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!

Happy Wednesday!

Today has been my official "Lori in PJs" day, and it's been a good thing - except I got up at o-dark thirty for no apparent reason. LOL! But my studio, Mary, you wouldn't recognize it. Well, except that I've been playing with a project for the last class of the year.... :D

Today's share is from the Thanksgiving Stamp Camp; we did four awesome projects! So sorry you couldn't join us! :D

I really love it because it's ALL Stampin' Up! product!

Card stock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Always Artichoke

Stamp set: Autumn Splendor

Accessories: Sticky Strip, Early Espresso 5/8" satin ribbon

And that is ALL it took to make this. Amazing, huh. :D

OK, I'm off to do some more stuff - I've spent a lot of time cleaning out my email boxes. I have a LONG way to go.... :D Have a WONDERFUL day! And be SURE to take the time to STAMP something!!!!!

AUGH! Where DOES my time go?!?!?

I am losing it, somewhere between when I get up and when I go to bed.... :D So MUCH to show you, but I'm still designing for these last two classes of the year. Yup, we're down to that time, ladies and gentlemen. :D

Karie, and Karie's mom: I have NOT forgotten your request for the pumpkin, I PROMISE. I'm sorry it's taken me so long! I won't be home at all tomorrow, but I've declared Wednesday a "Lori, at home, in her PJs" day. :D I will post it then. :)

OK. Here's one of the projects from this year's THANKSGIVING STAMP CAMP. I ♥ this bag! I'm carrying it to church and Bible study! :DIt's amazing what you can do with the Big Shot, vinyl, and Decor Elements!

OK, I'm off. That's all you get - you have to come to classes to get to know how and what we did! :D

Have a WONDERFUL day! And don't forget to STAMP something - goodness knows I'm in it up to my elbows! :D

WHAT a MONTH!

I'm here! Did you miss me?? :)
I'm sorry it's been so long - and thank you for sticking around to find me again. :D Between computer problems and leaving last week, I didn't have any way to post. But I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK! :D I'm going to post this one this morning, then another one this afternoon. They're both from the quick holiday card class.


In case you can't guess, this is a Thanksgiving card. :) It was a hit - it's really quite pretty IRL!

Card stock: Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla

Ink: Early Espresso, Versamark, Cajun Craze

Stamp sets: Day of Gratitude, Grateful Greetings (inside)

Accessories: embossing buddy, gold embossing powder, sponge dauber, heat tool, dimensionals

This set has really grown on me; I really have had fun with the medallion, and although I've seen a lot of people coloring it different colors with Stampin' Write Markers before stamping, I like to hit and run - and I think it still looks pretty awesome. :D I still have to show you the Hostess Appreciation Luncheon invitation, and all the wonderful goodies from that day - but it's NOT going to be today. :D I have a LOT I haven't shown you - and a lot to still design! :D

OK, I'm outta here. Time for Bible study! Have a wonderful day, and I'll see you later! And for Pete's sake, take the time to STAMP something! :D

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!

I hope your day is blessed beyond measure! I am SO grateful for each and every one of you; thank you for allowing me to share a few moments of your life each day. You are the reason I do what I do!

Now, then. For the FIRST person who tells me what's wrong with this card, I will send a little gift. :D


:D If you want to know the recipe, leave me a comment. Otherwise, I'll leave you to enjoy my MASTERPIECE. LOL!!

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!! COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!!!!!!

Thanksgiving card ideas!

Wow! I can't believe I haven't posted the cards from the SEASONAL QUICK CARDS class! Well, we did four Christmas and one Thanksgiving - and this one is it. :) SUPER fast and easy, too - you could put several of these together this weekend and get them in the mail on Monday, no sweat!

The background is plastic wrap and Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, and metallic gold inks. I usually tell my stampers, "If it doesn't move, you can either stamp ON it or WITH it!" :) Just use the plastic wrap like you would a sponge!

The saying is from HOLIDAYS & WISHES. The leaves are cut with the Big Shot, and just crumpled up and straightened out a bit. They're adhered in one small spot onto the front of the card, and the saying is stamped in Pumpkin Pie and sponged with a little of the gold ink, then put onto the card with dimensionals. The ribbon is our kraft taffeta; when I ran out, we used Chocolate Chip - but it unbalanced the card somewhat.

Here's another idea, also using leaves cut with the Big Shot - but I also used the negative space - what was left when the leaves were cut out - to stipple Really Rust ink onto Very Vanilla card stock, so the leaves would mute it a bit. The half-scallop is also cut with the Big Shot; the "celebrate" is from CELEBRATE EVERYTHING, and the scarecrow with the cute little crow is from the Holiday Mini, HAPPY BLESSINGS. When I was doing my Hostess Appreciation Luncheon, I did a few too many - to be on the safe side! - of the scarecrows, and wanted to use them. :) The leaves are also left over from a demonstration I did; they're actually cut out from the More Mustard selection in the current Level 1 Hostess Paper Pack. (Did you know that you can get rewards for your order of $150 or more ONLINE, too??? It's AWESOME!!!)

Cute cards, aren't they? Super-simple, and fun to do. :) You NEED a Big Shot, I'm telling you! I've got a new die coming, and I can't WAIT to start showing you some awesome stuff with it....

Gotta jet! So much to do, so little time to do it in...! :D

Happy Fall!

Good afternoon!! I decided it's time to show you things from the fall stamp camp - tonight is HOME AND HEARTH, things for Christmas. I went way over budget for the fall stamp camp, and it was a GREAT time. The above are vellum "tube" candle covers. We added color to the vellum with sponges, and cut the leaves with the Big Shot. Added natural hemp, and the candles are electric tealights.

We made these cute napkin rings completely out of card stock. The turkeys are made just with the scallop circle punch and free-handing the waddles and beaks. I just love them - they're so cute! :D Colors are kind of off - I forgot to change the white balance on my camera. The colors are Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, and Ruby Red.

This was the ultimate piece for the night; it's a shadow box, 14x16. :) The leaves are from Hobby Lobby, but the saying is a Decor Element. I LOVE this piece! It's a great heirloom piece, to pass down to other family members - or you can gut the whole thing, peel off the Decor Element pieces, and use it for something else!

This is the card we made: pumpkin is cut with my Big Shot, stamped and inked; the Mellow Moss is rolled with the Fall Harvest standard Stampin' Around! wheel, and we used the moss gingham ribbon as an accent. Isn't it cute??.

OK, off to finish tomorrow's class pieces. :D Have a WONDERFUL evening - and be SURE to STAMP SOMETHING!!!!

It's a BEAUTIFUL Sunday afternoon!

I'm soooooooooooo tired. :) I can't wait for Tuesday to get here; I get to sleep in! :D

ANYWAY! Ann, I checked with my hostesses, to get their permission to share the Blessings Mix with you. I try to keep EVERYTHING that I do and serve for my hostesses ONLY for them, because it's their special thank-you from me. But each one said I could share with you - I have THE best group of stampers in the world, I tell you! :D

Here is the actual text from the insert. Enjoy!!

Thanksgiving Blessing Mix
Each item in this mix symbolizes a blessing we enjoy:
Bugles - cornucopia. We are blessed with so much!
Pretzels - prayer. We are blessed with the freedom to worship!
Candy Corn - food. It was scarce the first year of settlement, but God provided!
Dried Fruit - bountiful harvest. We harvest now, and save for the future!
Peanuts - future harvest. We know God will provide tomorrow’s needs, too.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving, dear readers. Know that I am grateful for you - for your friendship and support!!!! Enjoy your family today; enjoy the WHOLE day. Count each moment as a blessing, and it will be!

I will be counting YOU among my blessings!

Last night was Advanced Technique Night!

We had a good turnout last night - six, which is just about all I can handle at one class where we walk through the projects together.

This is the easiest one we did, Modern Grid, which I learned from Pat Huntoon at Technique Junkies. She ABSOLUTELY rocks, is SO talented - as is all her design team - and is one of the nicest people I've "met" online.

The colors of ink are Close to Cocoa and Pumpkin Pie; card stock is Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, and Kraft - oh, and a little Very Vanilla thrown in. :)

The next class is Thursday, a 10/10/10 - all Christmas! The design work is done, and all I have left to do is the cutting. There are some beautiful, simple cards - I can't wait to show you after the class!

Well, it's time to get busy some more. :) Don't forget to take the time to STAMP something - then bless someone with it!!!!