Some Workshop Projects

I think I mentioned that I did a Stampin’ Up! workshop for the first time in a long time a few weeks ago – I thought I’d share some of the projects with you.

I made up some simple demos and make-and-takes for the workshop – and I’m ashamed to say that I pretty much CASEd these directly from some Stampin’ Success magazine with some small modifications.  But that’s what the magazine is there for, right?  Hey – I’m a working mom now!  I didn’t have time to wait for the creativity to flow that week… 🙂

I did two small 3X3 cards to demonstrate some techniques using Stampin’ Pastels (’cause that’s what was featured in Stampin’ Success last month…).

The first card is simply colored directly with pastels and Q-tips.

The second little card uses the Poppin’ Pastels technique (stamp image in Versamark ink and use a Q-tip to rub the pastels on top of the stamped image).  This card was also a make-and-take.

I also demonstrated how to use Blender Pens to color with pastels:

How to use pastels directly on accessories like the flowers in the Pretties Kit:

And how to use pastels on top of white embossing powder:

I also demo’ed how to use pastels on the edges of cardstock to create an aged effect:

I demonstrated a scrapbook page featuring a flower made with the dahlia fold that was featured on SplitCoastStampers:

And I showed two cards that were similar to the template featured in Stampin’ Success (I know, I know…I was lazy!).

The card on the left I used as a make-and-take because it is a simple, quick and easy card to make.  It’s especially nice because you can use up all of your patterned paper scraps – just punch out circles of varying sizes and make up your own design.

Finally, I CASEd yet another project idea from SplitCoastStampers (sorry – I’m not sure who was the very first person that came up with this idea, but I know for sure that it wasn’t me) – embellished binder clips.  You can find lots of these in the SplitCoastStampers gallery.   I did this as a make-and-take too:

This is another quick and easy project.  Start with any size binder clip and cut a piece of patterned paper to fit around the outside.  For these, I used paper from the Summer Days Simply Scrappin’ Kit.  Then I just added some stickers from the same kit and a few pieces of coordinating ribbon for a cute photo holder. 

These were a big hit at the workshop – and even though I can’t take credit for these original ideas, I had lots of fun making them and sharing them with others – that has to count for something, doesn’t it?

Some Thank You Cards

I finally had a chance to play in my craft room this morning – good thing, because Emily and I had several cards to make!

I used the "Peas Be With You" kit from Paula’s Kit Club that I received back in MARCH and haven’t had a chance to play with yet (time certainly does fly, doesn’t it?).

I wanted to make a thank you card for my friend Linda who not only gave me some wonderful birthday presents, but was also kind enough to let Emily and I stay with her in Florida for the weekend last month.  I also wanted to make a card for her friend Judy to thank her for her kindness on my birthday as well.

NOTE – If Linda and/or Judy are reading this, don’t read ahead unless you want to see your cards before you receive them!!!

So here are the cards:

The top card uses a vintage veggie can label and the bottom card uses a vintage squash seed package.  Paula included some adorable little veggie charms in her kit (her kits are so fabulous!) and I have a little asparagus on the top card and some peas on the bottom card.  I used a little chipboard piece on each card and embossed "Thank You" on top.

I also made a simple Mother’s Day card for my mom (I know she doesn’t read my blog, so I’m safe with this one):

I used the Easter kit from Paula’s Kit Club for this one.  I took a gatefold card and added some handmade paper inside and out and tied it shut with a ribbon.  I also embossed "MOM" using Stampin’ Up!’s "Lovely Letters" stamp set and silver embossing powder.

I actually considered canceling Paula’s Kits for a while when money was really tight…but it was the one little luxury that I just had to keep.  I still look forward to her package every month and hope she keeps them coming for a long, long time!

Another Weekend At Home

Again, we tried to get up to our place at the mountains this weekend, but this time, Mike was sick.  So we’re spending another quiet weekend at home.

I thought that this would be a great chance to try to make some more cards to enter in the Stampin’ Up! Artisan contest, so I headed back to my craft room bright and early this morning…and this afternoon, I walked back out, head hung low. 

I was not happy with any of the things I made – and I didn’t really make many things at all.  I don’t know if it’s just a case of crafter’s-block or if I’ve lost it altogether.  Ideas were just not flowing the way they used to for me – it was very frustrating.

The funny thing is it was just the opposite at work the other day.  After a very long meeting discussing some pretty complex issues, I was told that I still "have it" (not sure if I ever REALLY had it, but I’ll take the compliment).  I’m remembering that if you speak with a confident, authoritative voice, people think you know what you’re talking about (even if you don’t).  But it is all coming back to me faster than I thought it would.  Soon I may actually really KNOW what I’m talking about. 🙂

Anyway, now that I have ‘it’ at work, have I lost ‘it’ with crafts?

Here are the not-so-exciting cards I made this morning (it’s safe to post them – I will NOT be entering these cards in ANY contests, that’s for sure!)…

By the last card, I had just given up and threw on some ribbons and a rub-on so that I can at least give it to someone with a gift.  They’re not horrible cards, just not contest-worthy.   I had to just walk away from the stamps for a little while.

So I think I’m going to try to participate in the SCS challenges this week to get my creative juices flowing – hopefully, the juices aren’t all dried up by now…

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day was a little weird this year…

First, my dad had hip replacement surgery that day.  I’m happy to report that he’s doing well, but it hasn’t been an easy road for him.

Also, I was at work all day.  I have to admit, I was a little disappointed that my husband didn’t send me flowers or anything at work (especially since we work in the SAME building!).  He did pick me up a nice bunch of tulips on the way home from work, though.

But I don’t think he understood that I would have liked to receive something during the day – something to have on my desk (now that I actually HAVE a desk) to remind me that someone loves me.  By the time he picked up the tulips, it was 5:30pm and I had a church meeting at 7:00, so it was kind of anticlimactic at that point.  And he didn’t give me a card, either…

Oh well – at least I have someone who loves me, even if he has difficulty reading my mind as to exactly how I expect him to  show it (doesn’t every woman have that problem?).

Hmmm…maybe it has something to do with the valentine card I made for him…

Sorry for the glare on the photo – the heart is stamped on a shiny, glittery paper that was difficult to photograph.

And yes, that is an anatomically correct human heart on the card.  It’s from Paula’s Kit Club – and the second I saw it, I knew that it would be perfect on a card for Mike.

Although some of his coworkers said that if I actually have a rubber stamp of a human heart, I have WAY too many rubber stamps.  Is there such a thing as too many rubber stamps?!?!

Contest Winners Published

I got my March issue of PaperCrafts magazine in the mail yesterday.  In it is published my winning entry for the World Card Making Day contest:

My card is the one on the lower left with the circles – pretty cool!

Dad’s Birthday

In addition to Daisy’s birthday, this weekend is also my Dad’s birthday.  I made him up a card using supplies from a previous Paula’s Kit Club (did I mention that she has the best stuff EVER?!?):

I had fun with this one – combining stamps with rub-ons and a little watercoloring.  I also decided to put a hammer and toolbox in the hands of the bottom gentlemen because every man needs to work with tools while in a suit…

I Won a PaperCrafts Contest!

I just got a call from CK Media (anytime you see THAT on your caller id, pick it up right away!) that I was one of the winners of the World Card Making Day Contest in PaperCrafts magazine! I won in the Hello/Thinking of You category with a card similar to this one:

I made this card for a SCS challenge a few months ago – we were asked to use brads on a card for the “Ways to Use It” challenge.  I’m sure glad I did that challenge!  The actual card I entered was just slightly different – I matted each of the circles and changed the patterned paper choices a bit before sending it in to the contest.

I won a $175 prize package full of wonderful card making supplies and my card will be published in the March 2008 issue of PaperCrafts magazine. I’m so excited – this just made my day!

Christmas Cards

I managed to finish this year’s Christmas cards this weekend.  Well…I use the term ‘finish’ loosely.  They are still not addressed and I am still waiting for the photos to put inside (and of course, I ordered the wrong size photos and will have to crop them when they arrive).  But at least the cards are made, signed and otherwise ready to go.

I made two designs (I didn’t have enough red cardstock to make enough of the first design – poor planning on my part), both very simple:

This card is CASEd from Stampin’ Up! Regionals – as soon as I saw it demonstrated on stage, I knew that it was going to be my Christmas card!  The ‘tree’ is dry embossed on vellum using a brass template with a swirl design.  It has some glitter around the edges that doesn’t really show up in this photo.  I was going to add a Christmas sentiment, but I think it looks nice enough just the way it is.

My other simple design:

This card is also CASEd from SplitCoastStamper user TexasGrammy.  I did a similar CASE of her card back in a previous post and I liked it so much, I decided to use it as an alternate design. 

Now, where are those photos I ordered?….

Happy Anniversary, Michael!

Okay, I’m a little late on this one, but last week was so crazy, I haven’t had time to post this until now – sorry, dear!

We celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary last week – I am so grateful for my wonderful husband! We were married in St. Thomas on Thanksgiving weekend nine years ago and hope to go back there someday…maybe on a cruise for our 10th anniversary next year? (hint, hint…)

I made this card for him – he said he thinks it’s one of the best I’ve made (hmmm…not sure about that, but I’ll take the compliment!):

I tried to keep it manly but sappy at the same time – not an easy thing to do!

Since money is a bit tight, I also made him an anniversary gift instead of purchasing one.  This was a little out of my comfort zone, but I wanted to try something new.  It’s a box that also has a scrapbook on the lid…

Again, I tried to keep the design manly by using the “Serengeti” kit from Club Scrap to make and decorate the box – and I mean I actually made the box.  I painted  all of the cardboard pieces and adhered them together with glue to form the actual box.  Then I covered the box with paper and added the lid and scrapbook (which is also made from scratch – in the kit, you get the pieces, posts and page protectors, but you have to paint, cover and assemble the whole book including the hinge).  I filled the book with some photos from our camping trips – he can use the box portion on his desk to hold little mementos.

Happy anniversary, Michael – I love you!!!!!

Weekend Card Challenges

Well…it’s now officially the Christmas season at the Torrence house! I spent the last two days putting up our holiday decorations (up until yesterday, the Halloween decorations were still up) – I’ve sure collected a bunch of stuff over the years! But I love when the house is decorated for Christmas – it feels so warm and cheery!

Mike actually took the kids to the mountains this weekend by himself. I just couldn’t bear to face the Thanksgiving traffic – especially with Geddy in the car (he gets carsick every time we go for a long ride). And I really wanted to get the decorations up. Funny…Mike willingly volunteered to take them – something about me getting very manic-y when putting up the decorations. I can’t imagine what he means… 🙂

I did manage to take a few minutes while Christmas-izing my house to do the SplitCoastStampers challenges.

Yesterday’s Inspiration challenge was to design a card using this piece as inspiration. Here’s my card:

This card was kind of outside of my comfort zone, but I had fun with it anyway. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder to dry emboss the dots on the orange piece of cardstock. The fibers are from scraps of yarn I happened to have in my craft room.

I also did the Featured Stamper challenge. Our featured stamper this week was SCS user TexasGrammy, aka Beverly. I was lucky enough to meet Beverly at Stampin’ Up! Leadership last year – what a lovely woman!

Here is her card that I CASEd and here is my version:

Such a simple design, but such a lovely card! I switched out the Dashing paper that she used for Wintergreen paper and used the Joy sentiment from the Merry stamp set. My card measures 4 1/4 by 5 1/2, not 4X4 as hers does (I didn’t notice the measurements until after I had already made the card).  I also attempted to dry emboss the dots along the bottom using my Crop-A-Dile. I used a template to line up the dots, but they still came out crooked! Oh well…I like the card anyway!

I also took some time to work on an anniversary gift for Mike while he was away – I’m almost finished the project and will post some photos soon…