I'm still here!

Just a quick note to let y'all know I'm alive.  Back to school is killing me.  Between getting my oldest to adjust to middle school (attitude, need I say more) and running our elementary school's fundraiser (gift wrap, anyone?) and working 3 days a week, my life is ball's to the wall busy.  We have soccer 4 nights a week, plus homework, plus the additional laundry (stinky soccer clothes), and somewhere in all this I need to feed and clean everyone and thing.  I haven't been in the craft room in 2 weeks and I really miss it.  Hopefully, this weekend.  Stay sane.

Bump in the Night

The Hambo Hoedown Challenge this week was to use scoring in a card.  I chose to to use the "Beast" stamp and the "Bump in the Night" set of Fractured Funnies by Hambo Stamps.  I was going for a dungeon look and decided to score a brick pattern into some vellum.  I also used some Stone Grey Staz-On to grunge up the back side of the vellum.  I attached it to a piece of black cardstock.  I cut a door and attached a piece of chocolate cardstock that had been scored to look like wood.  Then it was just a matter of adding a little ribbon (on sale right now at Hambo) to make it look a little drippy and oozy and dungeon-like.  The monster was colored with Copic markers and spritzed with Goosebumps to give it a pebble-y texture.  Add some card jewelry and viola---a funny card.

Butt Crack and Old Farts

Just a few more samples of the hilarious greetings and images from Hambo's Online Store.  I made this first card for the Hambo Hoedown Challenge that ended yesterday.  I had the card made, but(t) just didn't get it posted in time.  I'm a  little behind, teehee.  The next few cards also feature greetings from Hambo, but the old farts are a retired set from Stampin' Up called Golden Oldies.  Everytime I see these cards I think of my Grandma Wert who was a real hoot, even at 97.  She passed away just over a year ago and I miss her greatly.  She showed me how to age, not gracefully, but with some spunk and a little vinegar.  Have a giggle today and remember someone with spunk.

Another Hambo Hoedown Challenge

Just a quick post today to show you another card I made for this week's Hambo Hoedown Challenge .  I used a really cute Hambo pig and Snowman.  The challenge was to use a tic-tac-toe board to determine which elements I would use in the challenge.  I decided to use eyelets, ribbon and punches. The paper (retired) and the punches are from SU.

Can you tell I'm already thinking of cooler weather.  100 degree days with 100% humidity are getting old.  Come on Fall!  Have an inky finger kinda day.

Kick up your Heels

This cute little possum is from Hambo and he (she?) is absolutely adorable.  I really like using animals in cards that are not the run-of-the-mill dogs/cats/bears.  Don't get me wrong, I love dogs and cats.  Bears? Well, all I can say is if you see me running on the side of the road, a bear is probably chasing me.  Anywhoo, this little guy is at the top of my fun-o-meter.  I made him for the Hambo challenge this week.  Part of the requirement was to use sewing.  I haven't cross-stitched in a while and it really shows.  I guess I should have broken out the old sewing machine.  Alas, maybe next time.  To check out other entries in the challenge go to the Hambo Hoedown.

Hambo-licious

The other night I went to a FAB-U-LUS girls' night out at my friend, Beverly's house.  She is currently a member of the Hambo Design Team and she had a bunch of fun make and takes for us as well as the company's owner, Monica.  Of course, I had to get a couple (dozen) stamps.  Hambo's tag line is "Go Ahead, Laugh at Us".  And their stamps deliver the giggles.  Check out their Online Store if you want a few stamps.  Nothing naughty, just a tad irreverent.  My kind of humor.

The first 4 cards were designed by Beverly and executed by me.  Luckily, I didn't spill on them.  I did, however, spill all over Michele and Kacey.  Sorry Girls.  And I wasn't even tipsy---just my normal clutzy self. 

These last cards are my own creations.  The first one is part of the weekly Hambo Hoedown Challenge.  I was supposed to pick a color that I rarely use and go monochromatic with it.  Well, purple is not my thing so I really had to search to find some purple papers.  Luckily, I found some in the dark recesses of my paper keeper.  I think I will call her "Priscilla the Dancing Pig".  And, of course, and pig named Priscilla needs lots of bling.  BTW, these stamps were part of the Hambo Goodie Bags that we all received.  Yippee.

These last cards are a variation of each other.  I used the "Beast" stamp from Hambo and one of their Fractured Funnies stamps.  I think his name will be Eustis.  He was colored with my new favorite toys, Copic Markers and then sprayed with a product called "Goosebumps" from Tsukineko.  It adds a bumpy texture without having to heat emboss it.  Kinda cool, huh? I hope you have a Hambo-licious kind of day.

Just Scraps

Here are some of the latest things to come out of the craft parlor aka "Mommy's Room".  I had a load of scraps leftover from classes where I had cut cards for people were no-shows or there were extras leftover.  In some cases, I stuck to the original design, but in others, I changed or added things, especially some of my new favorite stamps (really, I love them all).    Our church has a card ministry and they will be donated to them for the annual craft show and bake sale to raise money to purchase more supplies.  I hope they will find good homes.

This card features a Stampin' Up (SU) set from the new catty "Snow Much Fun".  I really love the primitive/country snowmen.  Too cute.  He was colored with my new (squeal !!!!) copic markers that I got for my birthday. 

This card is an original design from a friend, Sherrie Gough.  She specializes in clean and graphic cards.  This one is perfect for mailing.  The floral stamp is SU's "Tropical Party" (now retired, sigh).

The next card also features SU products, especially the cute "Aviary" set. This set is still available in the current catty.  It also uses the Big Shot and a special die that allows you to move a shape around and punch a window. 

The next 2 cards are essentially the same with the exception that one was stamped and heat embossed and the other was stamped and dry embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder from SU.  The Sunflower is a new background stamp from SU.  And as always, I had to give it a "Lori" touch with some "danglies" (that is a word, you know).

The next 2 cards feature the SU stamp "Best of Everything" and their new Domestic Goddess designer paper.  Not a big fan of the large graphics on the one side, but love the small plaids and prints on the other.  I'm so glad their paper is double sided.  And the colors are so retro---40's and 50's inspired.

This final card was part of a kit from SU.  I didn't have the stamp they originally included with the kit, but I substituted the retired "Soft Summer" set instead.  The colors are Always Artichoke and Cameo Coral.  This is a beautiful combo in real life, but the photo doesn't do it justice.  My next post will be all about the fun time I had at a Hambo Make and Take Party.  Stay Tuned.



Just Havin' Some Fun in 3-D

I purchased some wooden picture frames a while ago with the intention of altering them and selling them at a local craft show.  The craft show didn't happen and I had a stack of these wooden frames sitting around taking up space and gathering dust.  Since 3-D is an art form that I struggle with when papercrafting, I thought I'd push myself and give it a whirl.  I didn't make any rules for myself and just let the creative juices flow.  I'd put something up and then move it, then take it away, then put it back.  You know the drill.  In the end, I really like what happened and I think I'll display it close to the front door.  My art rotates throughout the house, so you can never be sure what you will find.  The boys' artwork is also rotated in and out of some cheap black frames.  Once it goes in a frame, it instantly becomes "art".  Did you know that?  Have some fun today and push your boundaries. 

May You Have Happiness

Just a few more samples that have come out of my craft room.  The designer paper is from K and Company.  It was an absolute dream to work with.  It was thick and had a subtle ink resist to the background that gives it an interesting texture.  I used stamps from Stampin' Up and Close to my Heart.  The cool butterfly border in the last pic is from Martha Stewart.  Most other supplies were from SU.

Watercolor Peacocks and Owls and a Message about Being Yourself

Here are a few more of my creations.  I started out with a cool stamp set from Hero Arts called "Happy Hello".  It was on clearance at my local Michael's store and I just had to have it and for $3.99.  I've had a ton of fun with it. 

All of the featured owl and peacocks were created the same way.  I used some watercolor paper, colored it in a random pattern with water color pencils, spritzed it with water to allow the colors to run.  You can let it air dry or, if you are impatient like me, you can dry it with a heat embosser.  Just be careful to not burn the paper by holding it too close.  Ask me how I know this.  I then heat embossed the characters and cut them out.  Another tip: If you color the edges with a sharpie after you cut, it looks much neater, in case you haven't mastered the art of leaving even borders.  Again, ask me how I know this. 

I used a variety of stamps and papers to complete the cards.  Mostly Stampin' Up product including their new In Colors of Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade.  I also love the Pool Party color, but was out of it, even the scraps.  Finally, I really love these cards because they bring an important message that I try to tell my children and students all the time: Be Yourself and be Proud of Your Individuality.

Lots to show!

While I haven't been the best blogger lately (mea culpa), I have been very busy in the old craft room.  I will break it up into a few posts over the next couple of days to make it quicker to load all the pics.  Today's batch of pics is a "Think Pink" swap that was I hosted at my house a few weeks ago.  See my previous post for the make and takes.  The only rule was that they should include some pink on the card. 

The first is from my dear friend, Kacey.  She is one of my oldest friends here in Forest, VA.  I really love how she incorporated texture and watercoloring together.  She used an SU stamp with the Magnolia Blossom that reminds her of her home state, Mississippi.


This is a card from my bestie, Michele.  I love how she used added just enough bling to make it fabulous, but still left it flat to make it mailable without additional postage.  Mine always cost extra.



This next card is from another SU friend , Jen.  She has the job I always wanted (a librarian) and has been to Hawaii (a place I want to go.)  Can you tell I'm a little jealous?  She was inspired to use a stamp from the Tropical Party (SU) set which is sadly retired.  I have used my set many times and simply love its versatility.  I used it to make a wonderful album for my Aunt Nancy which was blogged previously. 

The final card is my own.  I made it for the swap and then decided to give away the Ephemera plaques instead (see a previous post).  They didn't have much (or any) pink on them, but what is the point of being a Rogue if you don't break the "rules"?????