Our Craft Lounge CHALLENGE!

Wahoo!! Stampinalex over at Splitcoaststampers issued the very FIRST "Our Craft Lounge" Challenge! Here is the sketch she created. I was just about to pack it in for the night when I decided to look at the OCL forum and noticed this challenge. OK - so it is now 1:42am and I am just posting and then heading to bed. But I had FUN, baby!!!

So here's what I came up with. I decided first that I wanted to use the "censored" stamp from the Pat the Dog set by OCL. I think it is SO FUNNY! Well - what would you see near such a "pile" other than the foot prints of the guilty party?! The thought of it just cracked me up.

I pulled out my My Mind's Eye patterned papers from eclectic Paperie - oooh they are DELISH! That is what dictated my color scheme. Then I pulled out my Copic markers and off I went. I even used my turquoise AtYou Spica Glitter pen on the little bugs flying above the "pile". *I can't stop snorting out loud every time I type PILE*

I hope you are able to take some time and stamp today - and heck - why not try out this fantastic challenge!! If you do participate, be sure to post your card on SCS and use the "code" OCLSC01 in your keyword search section.

WOOHOOO!! and Have a Lovely Day

Hello - and WOOHOO!! I'm so excited to be the Eclectic Paperie Friend of the Week!! Thanks Daisy and Joy - you girls ROCK!! Not only are these two girls fantastic, smart, fun, talented, and great business women - but I am lucky enough to call them my FRIENDS!! :)

So I sat down last night to create. I have been really enjoying designing lately. So what did I grab - my new Tree-mendous Love set by Our Craft Lounge. Eclectic Paperie has a fantastic selection of stamps from this new company! I just *adore* the birds that come with this set - and as soon as I saw the tree, I KNEW I had to stick a little birdie in there!! ACK! I love it!

I colored with my Copics. I am still very much a beginner using them (yeah - um -don't click on the card and look too closely at my coloring -eeek) - but am really enjoying the results. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I look at all my markers and all the luscious colors!

I based the colors I used (all colored cardstock is Stampin' Up!) on the patterned paper by My Mind's Eye. Oooh - the colors! YUM!

Have you ever used Cryogen White cardstock????? I love how well images stamp on it - and ooooh-la-la -the shimmer is GORGEOUS!! Yep - that's right - a SHIMMERY cardstock. Imagine stamping your winter images, or punching out snowflakes, using this!!

Although the white cardstock already had a shimmer, can you EVER have enough? Not in my opinion - so I used my Stickles on the hearts and dots of the tree. WOW - in real life, this card is BLINGED OUT, baybee!! Gorgeous! It is amazing - a *tiny* dab of Stickles, and your image really comes to life!

As the card says, I hope you have a lovely day! And I certainly hope that your day involves just a bit of stamping (or heck, all day - LOL)!

Peek-a-boo

Happy Monday! OK - typically I am not a Monday morning girl. LOL - but today I am just so happy to post my peeking giraffe card that I can let that slip for once!! I have been thinking about making this card since I got this set. So I finally made myself sit down and get it out of my head. This was my first time sewing on a card. I am NOT one who sews - believe me - so I was terrified. Now that I've done it - I can see sewing on cards in my future!! It was a lot of fun!! And all the colors of thread - oooooooooh the possibilities!!!! I am finally catching on!! *snort*

I used my fun Tree-mendous Love set from Our Craft Lounge. This giraffe just makes me smile. He/she is SO CUTE! No - the giraffe is not confused - you can just make the giraffe a "him" or a "her" depending on your coloring! HOW FUN IS THAT?! And the DELISH patterned papers by My Mind's Eye that I got at Eclectic Paperie! YUM!

Hope you have a great day and week!!!! Thanks for looking.

Supplies:
Stamps - Treemendous Love (Our Craft Lounge)
Paper - Cardstock: So Saffron and Wild Wasabi (SU!), Georgia Pacific White (Wal*Mart); My Mind's Eye Patterned Paper
Ink - Black Soot Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories - Organdy ribbon, Nestabilities, Bling Brad (CK OK), Stampin' Dimensionals, Copic markers, Sewing machine

Tree-mendous baby love

Who doesn't love a sweet baby card? This giraffe just makes me smile! He is from the set Tree-mendous Love by Our Craft Lounge. Have you been Loungin' yet? Their stamp sets are just adorable - and if you click on a stamp set, you can also view samples for each set. And they have MORE FUN STUFF coming our way in the future!!

I hope you are having a FANTASTIC weekend!

Supplies:

Stamps - Tree-mendous Love by Our Craft Lounge

Paper - So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Whisper White (SU!) and SU! Designer Series Paper

Ink - Black Soot Distress Ink by Ranger, Chocolate Chip Classic Ink by SU!

Accessories - Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon (SU!), Nestabilities, Copic Markers

It's a Dog's World

Look at how happy Pat the Dog is! Aaaah - to live a dog's life. Ok - well there's no stamping involved in a dog's life - so - uh - forget it! LOL

Our Craft Lounge, a fantastic and FUN new stamp company, opened its doors for business yesterday! That's where you can get Pat the Dog, Pat the Good Dog, and many other HOT new stamp sets!!

I want to say a HUGE Congratulations to the owners of Our Craft Lounge, Cami, Joy, and Kimberly! I also want to say a HUGE Congratulations to Marianne, the artist who drew these sweet sweet stamps!

Be sure to visit OCL - and DON'T FORGET about the DRAWINGS!! If you make a purchase the grand opening weekend of Our Craft Lounge (Friday, Saturday and Sunday ~ November 14, 15 & 16th), you will get one pink ticket included in your order for each stamp set you purchase! Hold on to these tickets because OCL will start choosing winners the following weekend (November 21st to 23rd), and every weekend until December 1st. You never know when a new ticket number winner will show up on the front page of our site so check in to see what the prizes are, but trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Supplies:
Stamps - Pat the Dog by Our Craft Lounge
Paper- Cardstock by SU! (Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White); Patterned Paper by My Mind's Eye
Ink- Black Soot Distressed Ink by Ranger, Chocolate Chip by SU!
Accessories - Twill tape, Hodgepodge Hardware (SU!), Nestabilities

Our Craft Lounge - LIVE!!!

Our Craft Lounge - an exciting new company - is LIVE!!!! Go check it out - you are going to *love* their stamps!!

This card is something I just saw in my head (scary - huh?) as soon as I saw this set! It's raining hearts, baby. A few of the hearts were cut out and popped up - and then I added the AtYou Spica Glitter pens to those.

This card was just FUN to make. Who doesn't love GLITTER???? And paper piecing. And those GORGEOUS patterned papers by My Minds Eye! ACK - eye candee for sure!

Both cards were made using the set Lola Love by Our Craft Lounge. OMW - they are FUN FUN FUN - like paper dolls for adults! :) And I don't have girls - I have two boys - so this is my way of being able to play "girlie".

Check out some more fantastic samples using OCL stamps:

Cambria Turnbow at http://www.cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/

Kisa Peters at http://www.kisaspapercuts.blogspot.com/

Kendra Wietstock at http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com/

Pam Hooten at http://www.pamhooten.blogspot.com/

Carol Halvorson at http://www.happinessblooms.blogspot.com/

Bev Barton at http://bevbarton.blogspot.com/

Lila Holgate at http://lilascreativecorner.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Lisa Zappa at http://shabbychickjunk.blogspot.com/

Lana Lepinski at http://www.lunarlana.typepad.com/

All cardstock - Stampin' Up

Ribbon - May Arts

Coloring done using Copic Markers

Hope you are as excited about this new company as I am!!!!!

Salud! OCL Style

YEP - another *sneak peek* at a fantastic new stamp set by OUR CRAFT LOUNGE!! You are just going to LOVE what they have in store for the stamping world!!

This set is called "Going Gourmet". Very classy - and PERFECT for so many uses. Invitations, gifts, menus, recipe cards - it goes on and on. I *heart* the saying "Salud!" - meaning "to health". If you watched The Sopranos, you've heard it many times.

Here I made a wine ensemble. Forgive the photos - they are not the best, but I was so excited to get the pics taken, I overlooked the lighting a bit.



The card I created as an invitation. The background I stamped with a wonderful "swirl" line stamp that is part of the set. And the best part - THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL SWIRL - I used it around the "You're Invited" sentiment. :) It's the small things that make me smile!



The tag above is the same as the focal point on the card. I masked the word "Salud!" so that I could create a "label" on the wine bottle. ACK - CUTE!
I haven't worked with Polyshrink in a LONG time - so this was TONS of fun! Who doesn't love SHRINKY DINKS?! I had to run out and buy some red/burgundy colored beads to match my project - ANY excuse to go shopping. *snort*


You can find some other FABULOUS sneak peeks here:


Cambria Turnbow at http://www.cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/
Kisa Peters at http://www.kisaspapercuts.blogspot.com/
Kendra Wietstock at http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com/
Pam Hooten at http://www.pamhooten.blogspot.com/
Carol Halvorson at http://www.happinessblooms.blogspot.com/
Bev Barton at http://bevbarton.blogspot.com/
Lila Holgate at http://lilascreativecorner.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Lisa Zappa at http://shabbychickjunk.blogspot.com/


Our Craft Lounge is going LIVE - TOMORROW! You won't want to miss it! Check in tomorrow morning for a link - and you can get these FUN-TASTIC stamps for yourself. :)

BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE!! Don't miss out on the Grand Opening Prize Drawings!! If you make a purchase the grand opening weekend of Our Craft Lounge (Friday, Saturday and Sunday ~ November 14, 15 & 16th), you will get one pink ticket included in your order for each stamp set you purchase! Hold on to these tickets because OCL will start choosing winners the following weekend (November 21st to 23rd), and every weekend until December 1st. You never know when a new ticket number winner will show up on the front page of our site so check in to see what the prizes are, but trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Stamps - Going Gourmet by Our Craft Lounge
Ink - Black Soot Distress Ink by Ranger
Cardstock - Bravo Burgundy, Certainly Celery, Whisper White - Stampin' Up!
Accessories - Copic Markers, AtYou Spica Glitter Pens, Celery Organdy Ribbon, Gold Cord, Celery Brads (SU!), Ticket Corner Punch (SU!), Polyshrink, Swarovski Crystal Beads, Darice Gold Jump Rings and Wire Rings

Meet Li'l Peanut

Isn't she CUTE?!?! I'm in love with an elephant!! Not something I ever expected to hear myself say . . .

This A-DORABLE little ellie is BRAND NEW - from a BRAND NEW STAMP COMPANY!!! The stamp set is called Li'l Peanut. The company is Our Craft Lounge!! What? NEW??? Yup - BRAND SPANKIN' NEW!! I've got some fun sneak peeks for you coming the rest of this week.

FRIDAY, FRIDAY, FRIDAY! Yes - that is the day you are waiting for. On Friday, I will post a link to Our Craft Lounge - and you can buy this Stinkin' Sweet Li'l Peanut - along with many other FANTASTIC new stamps!! They will "blow" your mind. Seriously - I love them all!!! Gotta have 'em.

Here are some other Sneak Peeks that you won't want to miss out on:

Cambria Turnbow at http://www.cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/

Kisa Peters at http://www.kisaspapercuts.blogspot.com/

Kendra Wietstock at http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com/

Pam Hooten at http://www.pamhooten.blogspot.com/

Carol Halvorson at http://www.happinessblooms.blogspot.com/

Bev Barton at http://bevbarton.blogspot.com/

Lila Holgate at http://lilascreativecorner.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Lisa Zappa at http://shabbychickjunk.blogspot.com/

BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE!! Don't miss out on the Grand Opening Prize Drawings!! If you make a purchase the grand opening weekend of Our Craft Lounge (Friday, Saturday and Sunday ~ November 14, 15 & 16th), you will get one pink ticket included in your order for each stamp set you purchase! Hold on to these tickets because OCL will start choosing winners the following weekend (November 21st to 23rd), and every weekend until December 1st. You never know when a new ticket number winner will show up on the front page of our site so check in to see what the prizes are, but trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Supplies
Stamps: Li'l Peanut (Our Craft Lounge), Polka Dots (SU); Cardstock: SU (Pretty In Pink, Going Grey, Basic Black, Whisper White); Ink: Ranger Distress Ink Black Soot, Going Grey (SU); Markers: Copic; Accessories: Velvet Ribbon (May Arts), Black Brads (SU), Crystal Effects (SU), Spica AtYou Glitter pens, Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Count Cupcake

Hi there! I am SO EXCITED about Halloween!! I love the fact that there are more and more fun stamps, accessories, papers, and decorations in general every year for this fun Holiday! Yesterday I did my Inspiration Station (thanks Mish) - so here's another card using my fun stuff!!

I used the Dracula cupcake from Taylor Van Bruggen's new stamp set Trick or Sweet. I ADORE this set!! Does it GET any cuter?!?! A wonderful friend sent me this set for my birthday - YAHOOO!!!!!

The cardstock is all Stampin' Up! The black ink I used is Tim Holtz's Distress Ink in Black Soot. The ribbon is Stampin' Up! I used my Copic Markers to color this cute little vampire in.

It's Saturday - I hope that you are having a great day and enjoy your weekend!!!!!!!!!!

Inspiration from all over

My sweet friend Mish inspires me regularly. Well, today she issued a challenge and I accepted. Put together a Halloween Inspiration Station. Mish has been doing this for a while - and I just haven't gotten around to it. Well, today I decided to just DO IT - no excuses!!

So I went around and collected Halloween-related products. Oh yes - I have much more than you see here. But there was only so much room to put it all together - LOL (I bet you can relate).

My two new favorite Halloween products that I picked up this year are both punches from the Martha Stewart line. I got the Bat punch and the GOO PUNCH (I just love saying that - *snort*)! I picked them up at Michael's.

Thank you, Mish. You inspired me to pull out all my Halloween stuff, get stamping, and get blogging again!















I am teaching a Kids Halloween class tomorrow. This card is one of the 5 we'll be making. I was INSPIRED by my friend Otter for this card. At our retreat in August, Otter made an ADORABLE little basket using the GOO punch and this cauldron stamp (SU!). So I took inspiration from her and turned it in to a 4.25x4.25 card. Thanks Otter!

Thanks for looking!

I hope that you find inspiration in lots of places!! Keep stampin' and smiling!

Rustic Branches fun!!!

Greetings and salutations!

My friend Pine (Heather Nichols) just debuted her brand new and first ever STAMP SET, Rustic Branches, via Papertrey Ink!!! I was lucky enough to be with Pine at a retreat on the night of the big reveal - HOW EXCITING! She was so happy, as were all of us there to celebrate this amazing occasion with her! I was also lucky enough to GET THE SET!!!

So I sat down last night and had to play with it for the first time. I didn't do the set justice - it is truly a beautiful, elegant, and versatile set. I used Papertrey white cardstock - I love working with it! The rest of the cardstock colors are Stampin' Up! - Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, and Ruby Red. I stamped the sentiment on twill. I also used a spica glitter pen that you can get from Eclectic Paperie.

It's been a lazy weekend so far! Tomorrow is the holiday and we are planning on going to a pond that has been made to resemble a beach, has a playground, etc., with some friends. Looking forward to some time out and a nice picnic lunch!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

I LOVE Changito!!!!! He just makes me smile!! I got this guy at Archiver's - he was in a set (by Stampendous) that is exclusive to Archiver's.

I was in a swap involving my girlfriends from the Retreat I went to. So - being that I am the world's WORST procrastinator, I made this card while at the Retreat. I had inspiration from the super talented Anna Wight, as well as from my fantastically talented friend Bethie!

All cardstock, ribbon, and brads are Stampin' Up! I embossed the Rose Red layer using the Cuttlebug and the Houndstooth folder - you can get your Cuttlebug supplies at the FANTASTIC store ECLECTIC PAPERIE!!!! That is one of my MOST FAVE places to - um - do damage! ;)

And I can't tell you how excited I am to have received THIS!!

My beautiful friend Pam Hooten (Piris) sent me this award! Thanks Piris!!!!

Here are the rules:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls or boys you’ve nominated.

So here we go:

1. Cambria Turnbow
2. Bevie Barton

3. Katrina Kopp (Kookie)

4. Jennifer Hollett (Otter)

5. Suzanne Henrich

6. Joy Kennedy

7. Avril Miller

Have fun checking out their blogs - I know I do!!!!!!!!!

Hope you all have a FANTASTIC FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

School Daze!!

Hi!!!! Yep - I'm alive and kicking!! LOL

The last 2 months have been CA-RAZY! Along with regular life, my husband was laid off from his job due to company downsizing, my biggest little man turned 6, and I went away to a FANTASTIC retreat!!!!!! I hung out with 21 of my best friends, my true SISTERS! What a BLAST!!!! My friends Pine and HB planned the entire thing- I can't thank them enough for the memories, the classes, the food, the friendship!!!!!!!

My 6-year-old Tyler also started FIRST GRADE today! ACK - he is growing WAY too fast (remind me to find a way to stop that)!

So I decided to make a "note card" for his teacher to say hi and offer to volunteer. It was quick and easy. I would love to do some days in the classroom, helping with projects or reading to the kids. I thought it would be fun to send a cute little note card - especially since her friend (and co-conspirator when it comes to big projects at school) is one of my stamping friends!!!!!

The images are A*Muse Art Stamps - oh how I LOOOOOVE A*Muse!!!! The white cardstock is PaperTrey Ink - the quality is wonderful! The rest of the cardstock is Stampin' Up! (Real Red, Wild Wasabi, and So Saffron). I did a super quick coloring job using the SU! markers (same colors as cardstock). The ovals are Spellbinders Nestabilities that I purchased from Ellen Hutson. I also used (though you probably can't see it) the Copic atyou Spica glitter pens that you can get from eclectic Paperie - I used the gold glitter pen on the bell on the school house.

Sorry about the lousy photo. I had to write it up last night - and of course the lighting at night isn't so great. I'll work on my skillz.

Here's Tyler on his first day of 1st Grade! I love that little stinker!

Hope you are having a GREAT day!

My Stamp HAVEN!!!!

The pictures here are of my stamp room!! It took a LONG time to complete. This is in my basement. My Grandfather built my house - so he did the knotty pine paneling and built-ins. The rest my AWESOME hubby did for me. I got a LOT of stuff at IKEA (all the metal wire baskets holding the ribbon on the walls - $1.99 each - YEAH BABY). A lot of bargains were found to put this room together. I have been holding classes since April of this year and LOVING it!!!!

A bunch of girls have asked that I post pics of my room here so that their hubbies can see (and realize that NOBODY has as much of a "problem" as I do - snort). I've already made a few little changes since I took these pics - mostly adding more art, etc.

I loooooooooooooooooove going down to my stamp HAVEN and just creating!!!! Thanks for looking and have a FAB day!

Changito Love

I absolutely ADORE Changito, don't you??? He's IRRESISTIBLE!! OMG - those *three hairs* make me laugh! That swirly tail! I'm in love! *snort* OK - I'll calm down now.

This Changito image, the vine, and the sentiment come in a clear acrylic set called "Changito Dos" by Stampendous, and you can find it at Eclectic Paperie!! Joy and Daisy are FANTASTIC women, friends, and business women!! And they just happen to carry the cutest stamps, best papers, and most incredible accessories!!!

The brown (Chocolate Chip) and green (Garden Green) cardstock are Stampin' Up!, the blush and white cardstock are Bazzill. I used my Air Art Spritzer tool by Stampin' Up! to squirt some Blush Blossom marker on to the white heart, to give it some additional color and punch. I watercolored my Changito image using my Aqua pen and Stampin' Write markers from SU!

The ribbon I bought at the store I was "cropping" at, so I don't recall who it was made by.

It's FRIDAY!!!! My hubby has been away on business - he'll be home tonight! The kids and I are very excited to see him. We'll have a great family weekend. Hope you have a great weekend, too!!

Sparkling Summer

Hey there! I'm still alive. I haven't stamped for FUN in a loooong time. So last night I went down to the stamp room and just let myself have fun. I am NOT showing you how the area looks after my whirlwind - let's just say that I think I ended up working in a space about 4"x4". *snort* I had a great time, though!

Today I decided to follow in my friend Lana's footsteps and post an oldie but goodie. I am using Stampin' Up! stamp set Sparkling Summer. I just love it still!!

I found this patterned paper seen in this first card - it is Die Cuts With a View - Summer Pack. The paper itself FORCED me to pull out Sparkling Summer. Oh - and STICKLES!!!! Oh - how I love love love my Stickles!!!

The baubles I actually found at Michael's - but they are now discontinued. However you can get baubles from Ellen's store!! I also used my Nesties that I got from Ellen - oh how I *heart* my Nesties!

All cardstock is Stampin' Up! Black ink used to stamp images is Palette Noir. Markers are Copics (forgot to write down the numbers) - they closely match SU cardstock colors. Ribbon is May Arts that I bought from Cindy.

OK - now I have to find something to do with the kids! LOL Hope you have a great day!

Happy Day!

Good day! Ah yes - I'm still alive! LOL I promise I will get better at this blogging.

I love my friend HB's style. So I CASEd a layout of hers to make this card. She has such a sense for style, color, design - AMAZING!

I had this stamp set sitting collecting dust. But NO WAY, I totally don't have too much stuff!! *snort* Now don't go down to my stamp room to try to refute my claim. I'm stickin' to it! I decided to pull it out and play - and boy was I happy that I did that!!!! Pick some fun colors, some ribbon, a clear button and GLITTAH - and I had a great time!!!

All supplies Stampin' Up!. I hope you are able to play and enjoy yourself today - and hey - pull out some glitter - it always makes me smile! :)