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"?????

And a couple more

Here are the rest of the cards I designed for the Stampin' Rogues.  One uses a stamp available from Stampin' Up that I thought was just perfect for this weekend.  Although picnics, baseball games and fireworks are nice, this card reminds me that the Fourth of July is truly about freedom.  I am so blessed to live in a country that allows me to express myself in any form.  p.s. the paper is Fanfare from Close to my Heart.

The next card is all about a monochromatic approach. I used the new Wisteria Wonder paper from Stampin' Up and another of their In-Colors called Concord Crush.  The Wisteria paper is a true blue-ish lilac and is gorgeous.  When SU redifined their color palette last year they removed most of the purple shades (to my dismay.)  I am glad that they listened to their customers and added another purplish shade back in.   I would have loved to use the new SU ribbon that matches the Wisteria paper, but it is still in a box somewhere in Utah.  Come on Mr. UPS man.  I love that little brown truck that drops off goodies.  I hope y'all have a great Fourth.