Update on Life

When one doesn't update their blog since March and it's June, I think a word of explanation is necessary.

 This is my dear mom and her dog Molly. Recently we found out that my mom has a bad liver. This was caused by taking too many vitamins over the years that were too much for her liver and so her liver has become very damaged. The doctors thought her swollen belly was caused by ovarian cancer. They took the ovaries out and saw this bad liver while they were there and guess what? There was no cancer, but there was cirrhosis of the liver!! 
So we've been going to lots of tests and scans to see how bad it is. She's taking it pretty well, but there are lots of days that she doesn't feel well and can't sleep. Please pray for her she is a pretty wonderful mom and grandma.
It has been nearly impossible for me to concentrate on making cards and being creative, as you might imagine, but I hope to get and keep motivated.  We all need a creative outlet to keep us happy and healthy and while it is difficult I am going to try to get my mojo back. You are my witnesses.

With that said, today I am going to share a card I made for my son, Chris's girlfriend, Ashley back in March.

The background paper on this card is from Paper Pizzaz that I get at Joann's. The other papers are from My Mind's Eye and the charm is from Frost Creek Charms, I think. I like the sentiment that I stamped onto vellum.
I hope life is a bowl of cherries for you on this nice warm day!!

Hugs,
Lorelei

One Stamp 4 Ways

I am so excited about the Joann's (Grants Pass) card class coming up April 3rd and 17th!  The day to get the class for half price is all day April 6th. I'll see you there at the Open House sometime between 1 pm and 3 pm on that day. (I have a card class that same day at 10 am,)

The theme of the class is One Stamp 4 Ways.

Stamping and heat embossing 

Coloring with Distress Inks
 

Coloring with colored pencils
 

     Don't Forget
The day to get the class for half price is April 6th.

Stamping directly onto printed paper

I also have a card class at Anna's, here in Grants Pass, on April 6th at 10 am.  These are totally summery cards and are so cute you must see to believe!



There will be 7 cards at Anna's class for $20. Included in the price will be cost of these super fun Creative Memories stickers, pre-cut card kits and the inks and ribbons and use of my stamps.

Please RSVP to Anna here.

Trendy, fun cards!!  Who wouldn't love to receive one of these happy cards for their birthday!

 

I would love to see you at one or both of these classes!!

 

I hope you are enjoying spring!! The sign in our town says "It's the Climate" and it's never more true than at this time of the year.

 

Blessings,

Lorelei

 



Cards Using Stickers! Great in a Pinch

I promised to show you the cards that I've created for the Joann's February Card Class and here they are! (need your best Price is Right voice here).

 

These are 2 of my favorites. I used K&Company "SW Nature Bird" dimensional stickers from Joann's Frabric. The card stock is from Joann's too. These are both the color pallets that I love the most.

 

On Saturday, I gave a class at Anna Bearden's house. These are the cards I created out of Creative Memories stickers.

 I have lots of fun with stickers and cardmaking. If you need a fast card, this is the way to go. You can buy stickers in advance from any craft store and with cardstock to match, you have an instant greeting!  The card on the left has Washi Tape, (it's kind of a big deal right now) a cute sentiment from Stampendous and some punched butterflies from an old Creative Memories punch that I love and use ALOT.

The card on the right has a Martha Stewart envelope located in the Scrapbook section of Joann's and some My Mind's Eye paper.

What a beautiful day today was!
Bless your tomorrow,
Lorelei

It's Been a Bit of a Break!

Between Christmas and the boards I make for Penny Black during January, I've been a little scarce here.  Please accept my sincerere regrets. I thought of the time I spend here updating you on my passion for making cards often and I never seemed to able to take that break. But I'm back...

 

This is my favorite Christmas card. I just had to show you because it was so easy. The paper is from Basic Grey, Aspen Frost collection. The ornament is a Sizzix die and the swirl is from a Cricut cartridge called "December 25." There's a bow and a stamped sentiment. Done! Save this idea for next year. A Cricut machine and a Cuttlebug can save you when have several cards to do.

 

This is the Valentine's Card I gave to Stan, my hubby. The paper is from My Mind's Eye. They are fave at the moment for having prints that are a good scale for cards and they coordinate so beautifully.  I'd where a top in these prints, I love them that much. lol  I love the corogated heart too. It's from Bare Elements. The birds are cut with a die but I can't remember where I got it!! I don't usually separate the product from the packaging but I'm sure you'll be able to find something similar. Birds are so trendy right now.

This is the board I've been busy with for all of January and will be for the rest of February! There are four cards to a board and I will have completed 184 cards when I'm done with the last 16 boards. It's a blessing to me that Angela Kennedy, who designed each of these cards is so talented. It's my pleasure to duplicate these beautiful cards.  The stamps used on these cards are from Penny Black. I think these stamps are my favorites.

 

I'll be back tomorrow with the sample of the cards I've made for my card class at Joann's Fabric in Grants Pass, OR and the cards for my class with Anna Bearden.

 

Have fun creating, the rest of the time you'll probably be cleaning!

 

xo,

Lorelei





Thinking about Reading! and MojoMonday #270

I've started reading a new series, Maise Dobbs, recommended by my friend Kim. The author is Jaqueline Winspear. I'm currently reading the first book in the series and I'm so hooked! Maisie is a detective in London after the Great War. Her first case is a husband who thinks his wife is being unfaithful. That's all I can share for now, I'll catch you up in a few days, I can't put the book down!

Here's a picture of our wonderful Thanksgiving. There were lots more, but this is a good one.

My oldest son, Chris, was here on leave from the Navy for 10 days so he was able to join us for the holiday (talk about being "thankful").  Miki, a foreign exchange student from Japan, attending University of Oregon, also joined us.  She quickly won us over we fell in love with her and her  excitement for life.  Her willingness to try anything is truly contagious! My youngest son, Nathan, my dear momma, our two nephews, Ashley (Chris's girlfriend) and my husband's sister and her husband joined us also. Combined with wonderful weather, we really enjoyed our time together.

 

I have been spreading my time among many other interests, but since I am happiest when I'm creating, I thought I'd share a card that I made for the Mojo Monday Challenge #270.  It's been a while since I joined in a challenge because I was working on ornaments for my class.  This was such a fun sketch, I couldn't resist.

 

 

And here's the card I made for my friend Peggy's birthday using this sketch and My Minds Eye paper.

 

 

 

 Today I'll be making Christmas cards. I love Christmas and all the creative opportunities!

 

Have a blessed day,

Lorelei



Time Flies!

I've given a card class on Nov. 3rd and today is the ornament class!! I've got lots to share so I'll stretch it out a bit. On the card above I used Navy glitter paper I bought at Jo-ann's and embossed it with snowflakes from a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The stickers are from Creative Memories loaded with Stickles!! I love the snow topped with Stickles, as is the Snowman's scarf.

Here's one of the ornaments I'm teaching today. Thanks to the Cricut and the Cuttlebug. The cartridge I used for the doily is Reminisce, available exclusively from Creative Memories. The red base piece and the printed accordian flower and snowflake are cuttlebug dies. What would I do without these tools??

Have a wonderful day.

Hugs,
Lorelei

Fall Card Class!! Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012

Hello all!

I have a card class coming up on Saturday and I wanted to share the cards with you. These cards are made using Creative Memories stickers as the influence for the design.
 These are fall cards. There are thank yous and birthdays and all ocassion. There are different techniques used on each and then there will be 2 cards that will teach
new techniques that I think will be new for you, but that I'm saving for a surprise! lol ?What did someone say I don't have them done yet? Hmmmm.

 

I hope you'll join us if you can. If you can't be there, I hope you enjoyed looking at what I've been working on recently.

 

We had rain today, pretty soon a fire in the wood stove, leaves covering the ground, someone making soup (oh yeah, that would be me) ahhhh, sounds great doesn't it?

 

Stay warm, my friends.

 

Hugs,

Lorelei

 

 

You're the Best... No Really!!

Today I'm entering a challenge on the Hero Arts blog.  If you go to the web-site and click on the Blog you can see the sketches that I had to choose from. Part of the challenge is to use Hero Arts stamps (I definitely need more hehe).  Here's my submission!

The paper is from Basic Grey It's an older paper from my stash, which makes me very happy! I embossed one side with a Tim Holtz embossing folder and used Stickles on the pumpkin and the leaves.

I'm having a super great day on this 10-11-12!! The GIANTS just won the game and they're going on!!!

It's been hard to get anything done *-* I hope you're having a happy day too!

Hugs,
Lorelei

Can I Hear a "Hoot?" How About a "HOOT HOOT"

I am entering a new sort of challenge today with Dynamic Duos. There are lots of ideas on their site and anything is acceptable, with the challenge being to stick to the two colors for the week.

I was excited to join in and I thought I'd combine it with the Mojo Monday (MOJO262), which is a sketch challenge.  Mojo Monday has beautiful sketches which are wonderfully inspiring.  Go onto the website and see the archives of great sketches.

I made my card from a stamp I got at Joanne's to give it the seasonal touch.

 

It was actually fun to be limited to the Tangerine and Old Olive. (The neutral colors are free to use). I made the leaves with a Creative Memories punch that was seasonal a few years back. I added stickles to the leaves to match the glittery tangerine paper. I'm sorry it's hard to see in the picture. I went from not knowing what to do with the glitter paper to having a lot of fun with them (at least orange).

I hope you'll give challenges a try, they are so much fun and did I mention that you can win prizes for the creations you make? Lots of the challenges have sponsors that donate great stamps and papers, etc.

It's a beautiful day to be creative.
Lorelei

Sweet Little Autumn Card

This is a fun little birthday card that was so easy to make with My Minds Eye.  I love the colors in this paper and the happy butterflies. The sentiment is from Penny Black.

Don't you just LOVE fall. My only complaint is that it's not long enough. I think it should go 'til February and then a month of winter and then spring! Perfect huh?

I'll be entering a card or two into some challenges this week.  One card is done. I'll share it in a later post, maybe even today!

I have lots to be thankful for everyday, but the Lord has heeped blessings on me and my family lately.

I hope you're having a blessed day too.

Hugs,
Lorelei