The final results - 2007 Christmas cards

Here they are! The final results... these turned out to be my Christmas cards this year. If you're a follower of my blog you're already well aware of the fact that I simply can't get enough of this Baroque Motifs set. So it's only fitting to see it on my Christmas cards!!! Right?!

Details, details...
Stamp set: Baroque Motifs, Snowflake Spot

Colors: River Rock, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, and Whisper White

Details, details...

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs, Snowflake Spot
Colors: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, More Mustard, Purely Pomegranate, Bordering Blue and Certainly Celery

Some Christmas ideas

Well, the Christmas card frenzy is about to start... but I've been struggling w/ some ideas! It's that tough decision on HOW MUCH WORK am I going to put into these things?! All I can think about is that I'm making 125 cards - go easy or go all the way?! Here are some preliminary ideas... what do you think?

Details, details...

Technique: Wax resist (hard to see - but it's the tree)

Stamp set: Sidekick Sayings (Hostess set, level 1)

Colors: Soft Sky, Old Olive, Real Red, More Mustard, Blue Bayou, and Basic Black

Extras: Brayer, glossy card stock, light color crayon, shimmery white card stock

Details, details...
Stamp set: Snowflake spot, All Holidays

Colors: Soft Sky, Certainly Celery, Real Red, and Old Olive

Extras: Scalloped punch, shimmery white card stock

Details, details...

Technique: Wax resist (hard to see - but it's the snow on the top layer)

Stamp set: Seasonal Whimsy, All Holidays, Jumbo Whimsy wheel
Colors: Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Real Red, and Blue Bayou

Extras: Scalloped punch, double rectanble punch, shimmery white card stock, wild wasabi stitched grosgrain

Details, details...
Technique: Wax resist (hard to see - but it's the tree)
Stamp set: Sidekick Sayings (Hostess set, level 1), All Holidays
Colors: Soft Sky, Old Olive, Real Red, More Mustard, and Basic Black
Extras: Brayer, glossy card stock, light color crayon, markers

Details, details...

Stamp set: Snowflake spot, All Holidays
Colors: Soft Sky, Certainly Celery, Real Red, and Old Olive
Extras: Word window punch, shimmery white card stock, silver brads

World Card Making Day!

Well, we did it! For World Card Making Day we met our goal! Me and just a few of the dedicated girls got together and made over 200 cards!!! The cards will soon be shared with families at a local Ronald McDonald House as well as a local chapter of the Navy Wives Club - so they can stay in touch with their loved ones!

Grant it... these cards were super simple, no-frills cards... ok, maybe just a little bit of bling.... but super simple.

A HUGE shout out to Jodie and Lisa for coming out ... and dedicating a few hours of their busy Saturday morning to what we ended up calling 'stamp-therapy'! We assembly lined and rocked out over 200 cards!!! Yes, I'm quite happy about this... can you tell?!

It's the least we could do... and boy was it fun!!!

SU's Designer Series Papers!

Well, I finally broke down and bought some of the WONDERFULLY scrumptious Prints Designer Series Papers (Page 173)... see?!

My first squash book!

For the first time in a long time I got to go to a stamp event and sit back and enjoy! And looky what I learned!!! I made my very first squash book! Now, I had seen one of these before. And I heard someone call it by name before - but no one ever showed me how easy it is to make one!!!

But I was quick on my toes. Since I knew others would like to learn this too I brought home a second set of pieces and have created a picture tutorial so I can share this with others!!! Let me know if you'd like the tutorial - I'll email it to you. Now, I certainly can't take credit for creating the product... however, I'll share my pictures and the steps I learned with ya'll.

Throw your hands up in the air and yell -- "FUN!!!"

And for those who still don't know what it is... it's a small scrapbook (about 3" x 3")... sorry haven't officially measured it. But you can make it with any two end pieces (an empty tin, old jar lids, etc) - in this instance we just used square chip board (that was covered in paper) for the front and the back. Isn't this just the perfect size for grandparent scrapbooks?!

More importantly - why didn't I already know how to make one of these?!

Here I go CASEing again

These are the super simple cards I showed at a very successful workshop on Saturday. Even though it was over 95 degrees in that house (no a/c?!) it turned out to be a winner of a show!




This was a CASE of sorts - the color combination was inspired by the card sample in the top left corner of page 156 of the Fall/Winter Collection '07.

Details, details...
Stamp set: Sidekick Sayings (Hostess set, level 1)
Colors: Soft Sky, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal, Blue Bayou, Confetti Cream
Extras: WW Crayons/Blender pens, Spring Flower Bouquet punch

Add this stamp set to the top of my favorites list. I can't wait to use when we get more into the fall and winter months! And I just couldn't resist using it since fall IS just around the corner.

Details, details...

Stamp set: Seasonal Whimsy

Colors: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla

Extras: Very Vanilla grosgrain, 1/8" circle punch, and 1 1/4" circle punch

a new wedding card - same favorite set!

Yup - I got to play again this morning.... this is a by-product of my well-spent and well-enjoyed hours! Many of you know I'm also a photographer ... and tomorrow I shoot a wedding that I needed a card for. Their colors are black/white - so that's where I started. But I had to throw some extra colors in there as well...

Details, details...

Stamp sets: Baroque Motifs, Hugs & Wishes

Colors: River Rock, Whisper White (glossy cs) , Basic Black and Always Artichoke

Extras: "Theater" Ribbon Originals

Worry not - I'm still here...

As you'll see from the string of posts below, I've put this color combination together in many different ways lately! So while I've neglected keeping up my blog you'll see I haven't been neglecting the stamp room! Scroll down for some fun notes on my favorite stamp set of all times... Baroque Motifs! (Which amazingly wasn't used here...)

"Priceless" is a set I'll get great mileage out of. Because of it's style it can be used for both guys and gals.... and can be fun and whimsical all at the same time!

Details, details...
Stamp set: Priceless
Colors: River Rock, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Old Olive, Basic Gray
Extras: Scallop punch and Rhinestone brad

Let's use a different stamp set!

Oh my gosh... have I stamped something WITHOUT using Baroque Motifs?! What was I thinking?!

Well, now that I'm over my shock... this has become this season's masculine birthday card. My Brother, my Uncle, my Boss... there's more, but I'll spare you.

Details, details...
Stamp sets: Lovely As A Tree, Priceless, It's Your Birthday
Colors: River Rock, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Old Olive, Basic Gray
Extras: River Rock Double-stitched ribbon, "Theater" Ribbon Originals, the ever-so-wonderful Scallop punch and watercolor technique

What could be better?!

This turned into this summer's anniversary card. And since I wear the "wedding photographer" hat on the weekends - I send out a lot of anniversary cards. This one was fun and easy. I got to put some scraps to use, use my favorite stamp set, and play w/ the new rhinestone brads! Nothing gets much better than that....

Details, details...
Stamp sets: Hugs & Wishes, Baroque Motifs (why find a new favorite?!)
Colors: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Groovy Guava
Extras: Rhinestone brad

Pocket Invitation

I'm hosting a workshop/bridal shower for my friend Kellye. When I asked her to pick some colors for the invite this was her choice (based on the Congrats card above). She certainly has a good eye for color, doesn't she?! (Yes, I'm patting myself on the back! Get my dry sense of humor yet?!)

It couldn't have been easier. I think there are only 6 stamped images on the entire invite (inside and out). So the project went quick... but the colors really give it that eye-catching pizzazz!!!

Details, details...

Stamp sets: Hugs & Wishes, Baroque Motifs (what other stamp sets are there?!)

Colors: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Groovy Guava

Extras: Ticket Corner punch, ivory grosgrain, super fancy staples (j/k)

Sweet Pea...

This is my current "HAPPY BABY" card... this one obviously for a boy. The most recent being Sebastien Taylor... the first child for my friend Jessica! They are an adorable family... congratulations!

Details, details...
Stamp sets: Event Full (hostess level 1), Priceless
Colors: River Rock, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Old Olive, Basic Gray
Extras: River Rock Double-stitched ribbon, "Theater" Ribbon Originals, the ever-so-wonderful Scallop punch and watercolor technique

It's official!

It's official... I simply can't get enough of Baroque Motifs. This may go down in history as my favorite stamp set for my life w/ Stampin' Up! Now, it's only been 4 years for me... so don't freak out. Leave the freakin' out to me... I simply LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this stamp set. Who else loves this classic and simple-to-put-to-use set?!

Details, details...

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs, Paisley background
Colors: River Rock, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou

Extras: ivory grosgrain, hemp twine

Going baroque - again!

OK - I couldn't help myself. I was just about ready to put up the stamps and go to bed and another idea hit me w/ this stamp set. So I ran back to the stamp room... and voila!

Instead of putting the stamp set away w/ the others to play... I think I'll leave it out on the table. I have a feeling I might wake up in the middle of the night w/ another idea or two!

Details, details...
Stamp set: Baroque Motifs
Colors: River Rock, Whisper White, Soft Sky, Blue bayou
Techniques: Dazzling Diamonds (using irridescent ice embossing powder)

Like Magic!

My inspiration for the colors on this card came from a strange place tonight.... I was watching a commercial and saw these colors together and it hit me. I'm going to go play w/ my stamp sets instead of watching mind-numbing television. And this is what I came up w/ for my first card.

This is one of the hostess sets (from the Fall/Winter Collection '07 - '08)... and enticing too, isn't it?!

Details, details...

Stamp set: Event Full

Colors: Real Red, Basic Black, Soft Sky and Whisper White

Technique: embossed bunny, streaks made with watercolor wonder crayon (hit w/ blender pen) and topped with glitter

Playing baroquely!

This might just turn out to be one of my favoritest SU! stamp sets eer! And playing w/ these new colors is even giving me some updated wardrobe ideas - but that's for a different blog. THIS, ladies and gentlemen (ok - not sure how many gentlemen will be reading... ahem...), is this season's wedding card!

Take a closer look... that top layer of white has been embossed and then layered w/ some more ink. Can you see?

Details, details...
Stamp sets: Baroque Motifs
Colors: Whisper white, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, River Rock

New Hostess Set!

I proudly introduce one of the images of a new and upcoming Level 1 Hostess set (available to earn starting July 1 - ask me how!!!) I just got the set in the mail this week and couldn't wait to play with it! I just made about a dozen of these for upcoming summer birthdays! Can't wait to play w/ the rest of the images in the set!

Details, details...

Colors: Certainly Celery, Blush Blossom, Whisper White

Stamp Set: Event Full

Father's Day

"How true Daddy's words were when he said: "All children must look after their own upbringing." Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands." ~ Anne Frank

Well, I can't quite take credit for this layout. My friend Kaye came up w/ it originally for a guy's graduation card (but with different colors). And I've used this layout over and over lately when making thank you cards, birthday cards and now my Father's Day cards. Thanks Kaye! (See a link to her blog to the right...)

Details, details:
Colors: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Marigold Morning, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
Stamp set: Lovely as A Tree, All Year Cheer

My newest fav card!

Yet again... I've found a new card that I just love... the worst part is that it involves yet another retiring stamp set!!! Grrr....

It's somewhat hard to tell... but there's glitter on the bottom right. I just sprinkled it over versamarked dandelions. Then added a few extra spots of SU!'s Liquid Glue to puff up a few of the dandelions and add more sparkly glitter.

Details, details...
Stamp Sets: All the Best, Sincere Salutations, Dandelion Stampin' Around

Colors: Cool Caribbean, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Marigold Morning, Real Red (brad)

Tagged!

Tagged!

I have been tagged by my buddy Gina ~~ check out her blog link below! Thanks Gina for thinkin' of me! This is the one word answer tag. WHAT?! One word?! I have a hard time playing games that limit by word usage! So, it was a challenge just for me. Here we go:

Yourself: busy
Your Partner: golfer
Your Hair: graying
Your Mother: unique
Your Father: wise
Your Favorite Item: camera
Your Dream Last Night: none
Your Favorite Drink: espresso
Your Dream Car: red
Your Dream Home: spacious
The Room You Are In: office
Your Fear: failure
Where You Want to be in Ten Years: oregon
Who You Hung Out With Last Night: hubby
You’re Not: thin
One of Your Wish List Items: stamps
The Last Thing You Did: baked
You Are Wearing: linen
Your Favorite Weather: cool
Your Favorite Book: self-help
Last Thing You Ate: nachos
Your Life: hectic
Your Mood: content
Your Best Friend: Dork
What Are You Thinking About Right Now: timer (baking)
Your Car: red
What Are You Doing At The Moment: typing
Relationship Status: married
What Is On Your TV: vcr
What Is The Weather Like: windy
When Is The Last Time You Laughed: afternoon

Now... I tag Sher and Amy!!!

A Glimpse of Heaven (May '07)

Well, I'm back from my R&R... and I'd love to show you a glimpse of what I got to experience. This is a day in the life of a weekend with Heaven Gabriella Lauren Haraldsen! I'm proud to say she took right to me.... it's almost as if, even though she'd never seen me before, that she knew she was supposed to love me and hug me and accept me for just who I was... Auntie Lori. Because the first time I held her she buried her head in my shoulder and hugged me back! (Ok maybe she was just tired - it WAS close to midnight!)





Oh! I couldn't wait to introduce her to everyone! I wish I could have brought her home and let everyone give her their own hug. Because Heaven loves hugs and kisses! She is such a delight.... such a delight... giggling, laughing, full of wonderment and surprise and love... she is Heaven...





And like counting on the clock to tick - when she's concentrating on something you can count on her little pudgy feet to start "going a mile a minute"... twirling and twirling...






Look at that smile! Can you tell she loves Auntie Lori (photographer extraordinaire)?! A photographer simply can't tell a baby to smile (say "cheese")... babies only smile at those who look funny!





And here is Heaven adorned in a dress and bonnet made by her Great Grandmother Helen Haraldsen!




Daddy - you're so mean...







So may I introduce you to the newest member of the Haraldsen household... this is Heaven and her proud mommy and daddy - Jody and Loren.

Images captured in a quaint old town of McKinney, Texas ...

R & R

Well, I'm off for a few days of rest and relaxation.... much needed and well deserved! My emotions have been up and down this past week ... and coupled w/ the normal busy-ness of LIFE I just need to get away. Why the emotional roller coaster? This past week a long-time family friend passed away... we're also celebrating the engagement of some friends ... and absorbing the news of a potential divorce for another couple of friends.... and then of course I'm dealing with guilt from not getting my mother's day gift to her in time.

So what will I do? Where will I go? I plan to 'disconnect and reconnect' so to speak. Disconnect = from my cyber world. Reconnect = with my life. I'm travelling to visit my lil' brother in Dallas... and his new little bundle of joy... Heaven Gabriella. Auntie Lori has yet to meet little Heaven... and I'm so looking forward to bestowing lots of hugs and kisses and oohs and aahs on her! Fun pics to follow upon my return... Cheers...

My old friend...

I have an old friend

He looks like a gnome

We don't talk very often

But he reminds me of home!

- L. J. T.

OK - so this is another one of my favorite retiring sets. While I didn't use it very often.... it was the very first set I purchased when the new catty came out!

So I wanted to share my gnome friend w/ you...

Details, details...

Stamp Sets: Knobbly Gnomes

Colors: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Always Artichoke

Playing w/ Pearl Ex!

I just have so much fun playing w/ all of my toys! This one highlights the Pearl Ex assortment from Stampin' Up!

Details, details...
Stamp sets: Well-worn words BG, Quirky Quips
Colors: Appricot Appeal, So Saffron, ivory ribbon

I took the challenge...

Well, I took the challenge. There was a card-making challenge (hosted by a user of SplitCoastStampers) that just looked too good to pass up. If I can remember it and describe it correctly it went something liek this - this card should have contained 3 significant pieces. 1) A rectangular (and upright) card structure. 2) A half-circle figure aligned to the left side of the card. and 3) The last layer being a square/rectangular shape slightly covering half-circle.

Is that clear as mud, or what?!

Well - I took a clue from someone else in making the flower. Since I don't have a large enough circular cutting system of any sort (and since I apparently can't even trace a circle from a small plate or cup rim)... I decided to make a circle shape out of flower petals (using one of my SU! punches).

Details, details...
Stamp sets: Paisley background, Farm Fever

Colors: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Always Artichoke

Accessories: large oval punch, large circle punch

Happy Mother's Day!

How great of a daughter am I?! I made this Mother's Day card a few weeks ago. And tomorrow is Mother's Day - and it's still sitting on my stamp table! Ahh!!! BAD GIRL! Anyhow, wanted to share it... here's my ode to the soon-to-be-retired In Line colors and my favorite stamp set (also retiring!) Hmph!

What does YOUR Mother's Day card look like?

Details, details...

Stamp Set: Mixed Bouquet

Colors: Cool Caribbean, Vintage Violet, Certainly Celery

My Stampin' Space!

I LOVE, love, love my stamp room! See those windows?! That's the secret (well, not really a secret anymore, I guess)... to my creativity. You see... I have nature all around me - streaming through those windows. And when nature is around my creativity starts flowing!

My stamp collection is contained in the bins on the left. My inks are right in front of me... and these tables make for ample work space.

Anyone want to come over and play with me?

Wonderful celebration!

I'm just sick over the fact that both of these sets are retiring! But, I had to have fun playing with these colors and layers. So, I share today an anniversary card ...

Details, details...
Stamp sets: Wonderful Words, Happy Hearts
Colors: Apricot Appeal, Taken with Teal, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke

Encouraging

OK - so this is more of a "had to share" than a stamping technique... but it's stamp-related none-the-less. I share it because you just never know what's going to happen on a stamp day! This one proved to be ever so uplifting... to the point that we stopped and prayed for one of the members... tears and kleenex were involved.

This weekend I held a Stamp-A-Stack and there were only 3 ladies there. One of my regular customers, one of her new friends who has been to a few events, Jodie.

The newest lady, Jodie, emailed me this today in response to a follow-up email I sent her:

"Please Lori, know that I truly enjoyed my Saturday morning with you and Lisa and Tasha. What a Divine appointment. I thoroughly look forward to another Saturday with you all. Your impact and welcome got me charged up to stamp so I came home and made a really cute card for a dear friend of ours whose husband passed earlier this year. I was so excited as it was from your knowledge and love that I was able to make such an adorable card that I know she will be truly touched by.

You're the best Lori. You have a wonderful combination of gifts of creativity and the Holy Spirit to share. I'm so blessed.

With love and gratitude,
Jodie"


THIS is why I share my quiet Saturday mornings w/ other women! It really truly is about the relationships! And I don't care one bit that there were only 3 people in attendance! It's what "needed to be".

Here it goes... my stampin' blog!

This is my goal - to post new stampin' items regularly! This goal should include fun new color / design ideas, cards / templates, even techniques for the fellow addicts! So - stay tuned... there will be prizes to give away from time to time... starting next week!!!

Stampin' Hugs!

Lori