What a YEAR!!!

Slow down?!?!? What was I THINKING?!?! Goodness, it's been quite a month! And tomorrow's New Year's Eve!! And Monday, I leave on a cruise for the Bahamas! AUGH! ::Slowing breathing:::
:D

SO. I will say HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!! I'm SO grateful for all of you who have lived this year with me, who encourage me, who make me laugh AND cry. You are blessings, each and every one of you, and I appreciate you, SO much.

I am going to TRY and get up a Show-&-Tell for the time I'm gone. No explanations, no recipes, just a project each day. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments, so I have something to write about when I come home! :D

This year we're going to try classes in a different way; if you're on my newsletter list, I'll be sending out the explanation of January's, which will be on JANUARY 22, in the afternoon. I hope you'll plan to come stamp with me!

Also, Sale-a-Bration starts JANUARY 25!!!! Stampin' Up! had some issues with their mailing selector, so I have to hand-send every mini for both Occasions and SAB. If you want one of each, PLEASE let me know - and I'll be having a drop-in mini open house when I get home, so you can pick them up and save me a stamp and envelope. :D

OK. Time to get started scheduling these posts! I hope you like what you see! :D Here's to 2011: blessings beyond measure, stronger faith in God's love for each of us, and the strength to walk that out!

Cake ball on a stick! :D

Hey, y'all! Another quick post - it doesn't need to be very long! :D This is from our GIFTS FROM THE ♥ class. It's a cake ball on a stick, coated with white chocolate and gingerbread person sprinkles, and then packaged quite cutely. :D

I really love the GOT TREATS stamp set that this little saying is from. :) It's a great set, even if you don't have the mini milk carton die it's created to go with!

OK, I'm outta here. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me! :D

Have a WONDERFUL day, and be SURE to take the time to STAMP something!

Try this!

I'm so sorry I haven't been very good lately about posting; I will try to remedy that, I promise. But for today, here's a fun idea: it's a tealight candle sleeve!

We did this for HOME & HEARTH this year; I really had fun with it! :D The set is FIRESIDE CHRISTMAS from the Holiday Mini. We stamped it on Whisper White, then colored it in with various Stampin' Write markers. We put the whole ting together wth jump rings, so it folds up easily, doesn't have to worry about scoring or anything. The fireplace is cut out, and the fire is stamped again on vellum and colored, then punched out and adhered behind the opening.

Isn't it fun? Very pretty, a very nice gift, and it just says "warm Christmas" to me. :)

OK, I'm outta here - still finishing up my Christmas cards, and baking like a mad woman for the open house this Sunday! If you're local, you're invited! I'll post the invite tomorrow. :)

Have a wonderful day, and be SURE to take the time to STAMP something! :)

Help Us Help Others!

Nashville Flood 2010: Beauty from Ashes

We really want to help a family who's in dire need this Christmas. Alas, we're not blessed with an overabundance of financial aid - but we DO have one thing: photos.
We have TWO of this Limited Edition (numbers 4 and 5) flood print available.
Here are are the particulars:
Size: 18"x24"
Metallic Paper Print
Regular price: $150
While they last, price only $50! (Please add $10 if we will need to ship to you!)
The whole fee will be given to this family! It's your opportunity to get a GREAT gift for someone (or yourself! :D), and bless us so we can bless someone else!

IF the two prints are gone before you get back to us, or if you'd like some additional choices, we also have the following available at
OUR ART GALLERY:

For a limited time only, so please act quickly!

All photos available as an Electronic Download directly from us - $15.00 (you print)

Electronic Download plus add a favorite Bible verse or quote - $20.00 (you print)

Thank you for helping us bless others. We desire to be His hands and feet in this world!

Fancy Favors Box, Take One! :D

Yes, we used the Fancy Favors die again for the GIFTS FROM THE ♥ class:



And we punched windows on both large sides; the other smaller side has the to-from stamp from the same set, SWEET SEASON, on it.

This is Rich Razzleberry and gold; isn't it PRETTY? I told the ladies I thought it would be fantastic to give full of Ferrero Rocher chocolates! Wouldn't YOU like to get that? I know I would.... :D

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR THE INCREDIBLE ONLINE ORDERING SPECIAL! (Scroll down if you need a link!) Take advantage of the INCREDIBLE specials going on! HURRY~! It's also the last day of the fantabulous sign-up special. I'd love to have you on my team! :)

OK, gotta run. LOADS of decorating to do! :D But rest assured: I'm making the time to stamp. Are YOU? :D Only 25 days until Christmas!!!!

Fancy Favors - times TWO!

Here's another quick share from the GIFTS FROM THE ♥ class!
And YES, it's made with two dies cut from the Fancy Favors box die. It's one of my favorite dies - it's REALLY versatile! And of COURSE, we all know I ♥ My Big Shot! (Seriously. I need a bumper sticker!)

Colors are Certainly Celery and Melon Mambo. The "Season's Greetings" is from Many Merry Messages.

Let me know if you try this one - it would hold a couple dozen cookies, or be a great napkin holder, or or or! :D

OK, I'm outta here - have to work on more Christmas cards! :) Have a WONDERFUL evening, and be SURE to take the time to STAMP something! Christmas will be here SOOOOOOO SOON! WOO, HOOOOOOOOO! :D

It's the most wonderful time of the year! :D

Hello, dear friends! How was your Thanksgiving? Did you enjoy time with friends and family? Did you take the time to make memories? Don't forget to journal anything you might want to remember - especially if you're gong to scrapbook your day. :)

OK, on to today's share! This was one of the projects from GIFTS FROM THE ♥ this year. We filled the tin with a heritage candy recipe of my grandmother's, peanut butter potato candy, and then made the belly band for the tin. I think it's really pretty!

Those are the sparkle brads from the Holiday Mini! The ink was actually a bit darker on the "homemade and to die for" stamp, but that's the way it turned out in the photo. Oh, well. :D

OK, I'm outta here - cleaning and decorating today, with the cleaning being a necessarily huge (and EVIL!) job. ;)

Enjoy your weekend, my friends! Don't forget to take the time to STAMP something - Christmas is only 29 days away!

A Thanksgiving Gift for YOU! :)

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! :D As my way of letting you know how much I appreciate you, I put together this tutorial for a Top Note Pumpkin; I taught this a couple of years ago at a Thanksgiving Stamp Camp, but have had a request - and got it cleared as OK to share with my most loyal class attendee (THANK YOU, Mary!! :) ) - for this tutorial. So, here it is, for all of you to have fun with. :) There are LOTS of photos - and don't forget, you can click on any of them to see them the size I uploaded them. :)

You will need:
--Big Shot and your acrylic cutting pads and platform (came with it, if you got your Big Shot from Stampin' Up! :D)
--6 pieces of Pumpkin Pie card stock, cut to 5-1/2"x4-1/4"
--Pumpkin Pie ink pad (doesn't matter what size!)
--sponge
--2-way glue pen
--glue stick
--bone folder
--Sweetest Stems embosslit
--Top Note die
--large oval punch
--scraps big enough for project of Chocolate Chip and Garden Green





First, cut all six pieces into Top Note die cuts. I did three at a time!









(Pause, and admire your work so far. :D )











Now, start folding; you're folding them in half the short way. (I think you know what I mean!)










Do all six!










Now, take your ink and sponge, and start sponging all around the edges of a Top Note die cut.










Go all the way around. You don't want to just EDGE it, but sponge into the card stock.











Yes, do all six! If you aren't careful - which you don't need to be! :D - it won't take you too long at all. :D








Don't forget to close your ink pad up! :D









Now, take the glue stick and glue one half of a Top Note die cut.













Put glue stick on the matching half of another Top Note die cut.









Clean up any glue stick that might come out around the edges. :D










Glue three of the die cuts together. Then glue the other three together.






See? Like this!







Now, put the Garden Green card stock into the embosslit and run it through.






Take it out and separate it from the rest of the card stock - that's trash, now.








Punch out the large oval from the Chocolate Chip card stock.










Now, use the punch to take "bites" out of the oval; they should be different bites, not symmetrical.












Now, put glue stick on one half of the Top Note die cuts, and position the embosslit die cut first.










Now, put the stem on. Doesn't need to be straight or anything. :D But you can see that the stem is not all the way on the die cuts. That's the way to do it!








Now, put glue stick on the matching half of the other stack of Top Notes.





Put away your glue stick! :) Get out that 2-way glue pen, and put plenty of glue on one side of the total pumpkin stack. And walk away. :D





Do NOT stick the rounds of the pumpkin together until that 2-way glue is COMPLETELY dry. It's now re positionable, and you can unfold to store from year to year! (I'd put a piece of waxed paper on top of the glue....)





Play with the shape until you're happy with it! :D




I'd LOVE to hear what you think - and what you use your pumpkins for! :) Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!

OH, MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stampin' Up! has a SPECTACULAR sale running now through the 30th!!! And if your order is a)online and b)over $150, you get FREE SHIPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You DEFINITELY want to check this out!!!!! Let me know if I can be of any assistance! :)

Happy Wednesday!

Today has been my official "Lori in PJs" day, and it's been a good thing - except I got up at o-dark thirty for no apparent reason. LOL! But my studio, Mary, you wouldn't recognize it. Well, except that I've been playing with a project for the last class of the year.... :D

Today's share is from the Thanksgiving Stamp Camp; we did four awesome projects! So sorry you couldn't join us! :D

I really love it because it's ALL Stampin' Up! product!

Card stock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Always Artichoke

Stamp set: Autumn Splendor

Accessories: Sticky Strip, Early Espresso 5/8" satin ribbon

And that is ALL it took to make this. Amazing, huh. :D

OK, I'm off to do some more stuff - I've spent a lot of time cleaning out my email boxes. I have a LONG way to go.... :D Have a WONDERFUL day! And be SURE to take the time to STAMP something!!!!!

AUGH! Where DOES my time go?!?!?

I am losing it, somewhere between when I get up and when I go to bed.... :D So MUCH to show you, but I'm still designing for these last two classes of the year. Yup, we're down to that time, ladies and gentlemen. :D

Karie, and Karie's mom: I have NOT forgotten your request for the pumpkin, I PROMISE. I'm sorry it's taken me so long! I won't be home at all tomorrow, but I've declared Wednesday a "Lori, at home, in her PJs" day. :D I will post it then. :)

OK. Here's one of the projects from this year's THANKSGIVING STAMP CAMP. I ♥ this bag! I'm carrying it to church and Bible study! :DIt's amazing what you can do with the Big Shot, vinyl, and Decor Elements!

OK, I'm off. That's all you get - you have to come to classes to get to know how and what we did! :D

Have a WONDERFUL day! And don't forget to STAMP something - goodness knows I'm in it up to my elbows! :D

Last quick card!

Hi, y'all. Last quick card, and I think it's a fun one! :)

Card stock: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Ink: Early Espresso

Stamp sets: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Many Merry Messages (inside)

Accessories: Deck the Halls DSP, eyelet lace border punch, dimensionals

Cherry Cobbler, I think, is becoming my favorite of the new colors. It's such a RICH color!

OK, I'm outta here. Lots to do, lots to design, and lots to procrastinate about. :D Have a WONDERFUL evening, and be SURE to take the time to STAMP something!

I promised, and here I am!

Second one for today!

Card stock: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Early Espresso

Ink: Early Espresso, Real Red

Stamp sets: Forest Friends, Many Merry Messages

Accessories: ticket corner punch, champagne glass glitter, Tombow multi

Isn't it ADORABLE?? I just love this card - so simple, but so CUTE. :D

OK, I'm off - it's HEARTH AND HOME class night! I'll see you soon! :D and I certainly hope you're taking the time to STAMP something!

WHAT a MONTH!

I'm here! Did you miss me?? :)
I'm sorry it's been so long - and thank you for sticking around to find me again. :D Between computer problems and leaving last week, I didn't have any way to post. But I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK! :D I'm going to post this one this morning, then another one this afternoon. They're both from the quick holiday card class.


In case you can't guess, this is a Thanksgiving card. :) It was a hit - it's really quite pretty IRL!

Card stock: Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla

Ink: Early Espresso, Versamark, Cajun Craze

Stamp sets: Day of Gratitude, Grateful Greetings (inside)

Accessories: embossing buddy, gold embossing powder, sponge dauber, heat tool, dimensionals

This set has really grown on me; I really have had fun with the medallion, and although I've seen a lot of people coloring it different colors with Stampin' Write Markers before stamping, I like to hit and run - and I think it still looks pretty awesome. :D I still have to show you the Hostess Appreciation Luncheon invitation, and all the wonderful goodies from that day - but it's NOT going to be today. :D I have a LOT I haven't shown you - and a lot to still design! :D

OK, I'm outta here. Time for Bible study! Have a wonderful day, and I'll see you later! And for Pete's sake, take the time to STAMP something! :D

PROBLEMS!

We had to do some network changes here today, and my computer STILL won't hook up right. SO, I maynot get much up for a bit. I'm sorry - but don't give up on me!!!

A Quick Christmas Card!

Good evening, y'all! Tonight is our CHOCOLATE! class - basically, it's an excuse to get together and eat chocolate.

But I'll tell you all about that some other time. :D

Today's share? A pretty Christmas card - IMHO....

See? Pretty! :D

Card stock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Real Red

Ink: Real Red, Whisper White Craft

Stamp sets: Many Merry Messages, Christ is Born

Accessories: tcket corner punch, Frost White Shimmer Paint, dimensionals

The shimmer paint mist showed up a bit white in the photo, but it's REALLY pretty and shimmery IRL. Stop by and ask to see it, if you wanna! :D

OK, I'm outta here. Time to make some more chocolate! :D

Have a wonderful day! And please, be SURE to take the time to STAMP something! :)

Guess who! :D

OK, I've finally downloaded photos from the camera - and I'm trying to get ready for classes, MORE travel, and other work. I'm feeling CRUSHED - but I keep telling myself, "Just hold out until Thanksgiving!" LOL!!!

Today, I'm going to share one of our quick cards from the HOLIDAY QUICK CARD CLASS on Monday. We had a great time! This was the least favorite. LOL - it's because of the water coloring. I used to have customers who loved to color - now, not so much. :D

But it IS cute, I think you'll have to admit! Remember, these are QUICK cards, so not too fancy!

Card stock: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, watercolor paper

Ink: Jet Black Stazon

Stamp sets: Grateful Greetings, Greeting Card Kids

Accessories: Aqua Painters, Stampin' Write Markers, dimensionals, SNAIL

This is such a cute image set!

OK, I'm off to do more - usually it's two minutes doing this project, then get distracted by another project and work on it for two minutes, then get distracted.... :D

Have a WONDERFUL day! Be SURE and take the time to STAMP something!

Well, shoot!

I keep meaning to get started on the hostess appreciation description, but life is NOT cooperating with me. :D SO, I'm going to show you a simple way to decorate for ANY holiday - use your stamped cards!

Heck, you don't even have to have a time of year to decorate with them! People LOVE to look at the designs, and OOH and AAH over them. :) This is a simple picture holder - we look for them at garage sales, where they're cheap! :) Take your favorite cards, and stick them in the holder. Now, place it on a side table, or anywhere you want a splash of color!

Be sure to put your friends' cards in the holder when they're coming over. :D It makes them feel really good, and you might be surprised how awesome things look together!

OK, I'm outta here - class time! :) See you tomorrow - I hope....

I know, I know!

I've been VERY absent lately. It's been a long, BUSY week - and I'm not done yet! Tomorrow is the Hostess Appreciation Luncheon, and although I've got a LOT done, I've still got some stuff to do! Things like cooking, and writing instructions for a project, and then it will be time to greet my friends! :D

Anyway. Here's a card that's a full sheet of card stock - so it's 5-1/2"x8-1/2". Be sure to click on the photo to see the large size, if you want!
You've seen one kind of like this one before, but it is a bit different.

Card stock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray

Ink: Whisper White craft, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Jet Black Stazon

Stamp sets: Occasional Quotes (level 3 hostess-only stamp set!), Simple Friendship, Define Your Life (inside)

Accessories: 2-3/8" scallop circle punch, 1-3/4" circle punch, white embossing powder, embossing buddy, heat tool, dimensionals, organza ribbon, sponge, Vintage Elements 1 decor stencils, color spritzer tool

This thank-you card was for a contributor for our travels/ministry; we included a 5x7 of one of the shots from our Oregon trip. :)

Anyway. I really love the way it turned out; I love the way the white looks sponged through the stencil onto the Basic Gray. And I love the quote stamp on the front; it's so versatile! :D

OK, I'm off to work on stuff for tomorrow! Those of you who are coming, I can't wait to share with you. :) If you're not invited this year, or couldn't come for some reason, it's never too early to get your party in and get invited NEXT year! :D

Have a WONDERFUL weekend! Be sure to take the time to STAMP something!!!!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A repost of my Christmas card for you from last year - I'm still pretty impressed with it. :D We're at SIXTY-SIX days until Christmas, folks!!! :D


Here is my Christmas card for you this year, dear friend. Please be sure to read the inscription on the inside! :D (Just click on it to get it bigger!)

Here's the outside....

And here's the inside!
:D OK, you don't have to stamp today. If your family traditions are like mine, you're not gonna have time! :D MERRY CHRISTMAS!