October Stamp Club

Last night was my monthly stamp club with my totally amazing group of ladies.  There's always so much fun and laughter and I love that they enjoy our meetings so much!   I thought I'd share our cards and a few other pictures today.  

This first one we did using my favorite set, French Foliage, and the new Core'dinations card stock from the Holiday Catalog.  I just LOVE that background!

For our second project we used the Naturals Composition paper from the main catalog.  I just love the look of it brayered with color.  We did change up the card a little and add more leaves to the image panel.  I did two panels to show a few choices and they all liked the other option better.  Of course that's the one I forgot to snap a picture of.   Looks like I was in a More Mustard and Early Espresso mood, huh?  :)

 Here's everyone with their beautiful masterpieces!  (Notice my Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler kitchen in the background.)

Last night was our last meeting of this round of club so I wanted to make them up a special gift.  I found this fun idea on Pinterest and made them this gift-in-a-jar.  Jason was a huge help with these or I think it would have taken me forever!  

LOL  Is this not THE best "caption this" photo ever?!  I love it!    

Bows and Boxes

Today I decided to work on a hostess gift for my upcoming workshop.   I have always wanted to try making a paper bow, so I pulled up the instructions on Splitcoast Stampers and got to work.  I hope the rest of my designer papers know that they are in trouble now.  I had so much fun making this that I can't wait to do more!   I'm pretty sure there will be bows on everything soon!    :)  I used the lovely Frostwood Lodge designer paper from the Holiday Mini for this one.  It is a bit rustic and works great with the cute Kraft boxes you can also find in the mini.  :)   Don't you want to make your own now?   We'll be doing them next month at my Try It Thursday class, so you might want to mark your calendar and plan to attend!

Today I got an awesome box of goodies in the mail from my VERY talented friend, Brandi.   If you aren't following her blog, go now and get that one your reading list.   I absolutely love her work and as a bonus, she makes me laugh a lot too!  Winning her blog candy allowed us to become friends and I'm so happy that the random number generator picked me!   :)   I can't wait to play with my new stamp set and drool a bit over my pretty card.   Maybe my next workshop hostess will get lucky and get a decorated tin!   Don't they look fun to work with?    Thanks again, Brandi!   You rock!

I do apologize for the crummy pictures.   I didn't get in my room until late today and missed the good light.  I am slowly getting together the pieces to make my light tent, so hopefully that won't be an issue in a few more weeks.

Prepping for Club!

This week I have the pleasure of stamping with my two clubs and I'm so excited!   There is nothing better than getting together with a group of ladies who share your love of paper crafts.   I have been working on some ideas and here are the first two projects that we'll be making.   Aren't they pretty?!   I wanted to make the little sour cream containers and after seeing how darling they were, I had to make a matching card.  

Now I'm no expert, but I think this just might qualify as a vintage card.  I love when the idea I have in my head turns out even better than I thought it would.   :)   I'm going to stand by my statement that you can't make an ugly card with the Spice Cake designer paper.  I'm ordering a second (and maybe even a third) pack of it on my next order!   If you don't have it yet, I'm serious when I say GET IT NOW!    :)    

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude

Ink:  Soft Suede, Pool Party

Paper:  Soft Suede, Pool Party, Spice Cake, Very Vanilla

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders, Top Note die, Lots of Tags sizzlit dies, XL oval punch, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, sponges

As a demonstrator, I get an awesome magazine from Stampin' Up! each month called Stampin' Success.  In the September edition, one of the articles featured these adorable sour cream containers.   Sour cream?   There's none in there, but they are shaped like the containers you'd get in some restaurants.   :)    You can add some fun treats or candy and use them as a favor or gift.   Did you see the fabric?!   I bought some AND I used it!   I'm terrified of anything related to sewing, but these were easy and no sewing was required.  

Stamps:  Falling Leaves
Ink:  Soft Suede
Paper:  Soft Suede, Pool Party, Very Vanilla
Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice and Stripes embossing folders, tag punch, Spice Cake fabric, Early Espresso Baker's Twine

Tomorrow's Fall Class

I am so excited about my class tomorrow!  We are going to make some fun projects for Halloween and Thanksgiving.  What a fun way to celebrate World Card Making Day!

This first project is an little pumpkin that would be gorgeous on the Thanksgiving table.  You could make them in many sizes and patterns and have quite the display!    I love the Spice Cake designer paper; I might need a whole pack just to make pumpkins!   

Halloween is just around the corner, so be sure to get those projects going soon!   Isn't this little pillow box adorable!   My friend Anne Marie did an adorable card where she put the witches hat on the owl and I HAD to make one!   These little boxes are perfect for your office mates or your child's Halloween party!     

Because it IS World Card Making day tomorrow, we have to make a few cards, right?   I wanted to do some fall cards, but not really in typical fall colors.   I used the Color Coach for the combinations and I like the way the colors look together.   High five, Color Coach; you rock as usual!  The card above is Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, and Cherry Cobbler.    The card below is More Mustard, Cajun Craze, and Night of Navy.  I kept them pretty simple so that they could be mailed with a regular postage stamp.  

I ran out of sunlight before I could take pictures of the other treats, so stay tuned for more tomorrow! 

Labor of Love

For my last month as a designer on the Splitcoast Creative Crew, I decided to really go all out.   I had bookmarked this really awesome shadow box by Nancy Riley ages ago, but never thought I'd have the patience or skill to make one of my own.   Well...one day I was at the craft store browsing the frames and I saw this one.  It was on sale for around $3.50, so I figured if I got it and couldn't do it, no real harm.  :)    The challenge was to use 3 colors from the Pocketful of Posies paper, so I picked Early Espresso, Poppy Parade, and So Saffron.   It took a big of figuring out, but I sat down and sketched out ideas for each of my squares and then went to work.   By the end, I was having so much fun that I hated to see it complete.   So...I now have another frame, a larger frame, in my room waiting.  :)

Thanks for stopping by to visit!  

Not a Card!

Look at what came in the mail today!    I purchased this fabric ages ago and cut it with the scallop square die.   I sent it and all the other supplies off to Kentucky to my mom because I am clueless with the sewing machine!   She worked with my sweet cousin Gloria to get it all put together.   My cousin Kelly even took the leftover material and made me a flower!    Isn't it cute?    I want one in either the Flirtatious or Timeless Portrait fabric now.  :o)

I did a ton of stamping today, but you'll have to wait until Monday to see it as it was all for my Creative Crew challenges.   August is my last month as a designer, so it was a bit sad to finish up everything today.   I love being on a design team, so I guess I should watch for some calls or something.   It is so fun and you get to know the other designers so well.  It's like having a little family.  

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  
~Rita

I {heart} bird houses!

I love bird feeders and bird houses.  I spend a lot of time looking out my window watching the birds at my bird feeder.   I have some beautiful cardinals that love to visit throughout the day and it brings a smile to my face each and every time I look out and see them.    Our recent Stampin' Success (the magazine we get as demonstrators) had the most adorable article featuring bird houses and I had to make one!   This was my first attempt, so don't be too critical.   The first one is always the one where you learn what NOT to do when you make the next one.  :)

Stamps:  None
Ink: None
Paper:  Blushing Bride, In Color Hostess designer paper pack
Accessories:  Basic Pearls

More Craft Fair stuff...

Here is my collection of the Hershey pull candy.   I think they make adorable stocking stuffers!    I had a blast making all of them; I think I did 14 in all.

Today's Project: Mini-Clipboard

I had bookmarked these awesome little clipboards on Jen's blog ages ago and finally got all the supplies to make them this week.    I admit, I'm quickly becoming addicted to the non-card projects!   I was terrified to jump in and do them, but now I LOVE them!    I did my first one in one of my favorite colors, Tempting Turquoise!  

Supplies:  4x4 chipboard coaster, post-it notes, binder clips, designer paper, punches, thread

Non-card project of the week

I decided to make a few things to give away as door prizes at my open house next week and started out by making this great 3x3 card box using a tutorial I found on Splitcoast Stampers.  Cute, huh?    :)  It would be a perfect as a teacher's gift, so contact me if you'd like to make one to give to your child's new teacher!

I have to say, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Watercolor Trio.  

3x3 cards are some of my new favorite projects.  I think they are adorable and are great to attach to gifts!