Rubber Room Stampin'

DRUM ROLL FOR MY 'ROYAL TOUR' BLOG CANDY WINNER

First of all I must say THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR 'ROYAL BLOG TOUR' COMMENTS!  I can't tell you how wonderful -- and talented -- they all made me feel.  I'm glad so many of you loved the stamp set, Greenhouse Garden, that I used.  I was serious when I told you it was my 4th choice.  It seemed like it would be so much work with all of those individual flowers.  But it turned out, instead, to be so much fun.  It was fun seeing how each card evolved and then which card some liked best, as opposed to which card/s others liked best.  Many of your comments will be getting comments back from me because of questions asked or because of something in your comment that required a response.  It might be a day or two though.

Those of you who are demos and requested the Magazine File template and instructions: I will send them hopefully today.*  With guests arriving 'sometime' in the afternoon, I'm not sure when I'll get interrupted in all my to-do tasks.  Someone who's not a demo requested these instructions as well.  You'll be getting them too.  :)

Now, who will be receiving my freshly made Magazine File plus 8 handmade cards w/envelopes????  Well, it's

KATIE JOHNSON 

Congratulations Katie.  I will email you privately for your mailing address or go ahead and email it to me.  I used www.Random.org to randomly select Katie's number.

For those of you who didn't win, you're all still winners if you're willing to put out a little effort.  I'm going to link you to the instructions for the Magazine File so you can make as many as you want!  I really love making and sharing this card holder and I want you to be able to WOW your friends with a lovely gift or desk accessory.  So, please click on this link and it'll take you back a few months to my first experience making these files.  There is a photo tutorial that will walk you through the process.  I also have a Word Doc that has a diagram which I just could not figure out how to create and post back in March.  Actually I still can't figure out how to post a pdf.  (True confessions!)  If you email me (button above in left sidebar) I will send it as an attachment.  

*The link above is exactly the one I would be sending the Stampin' Up! Demonstrators who left comments on my blog and requested the instructions.  So, click on the link above and you'll be good to go.  And ask and I'll send the Word Doc diagram.

Thank you all for visiting My Country Loft Blog during the last three days.  (My Country Loft, by the way, is the room over our garage---used to be a bedroom for boy and friends who played guitar too loud for Mom and Dad.  Boy went to college, graduated and eventually got married--Mom got a stamp room!!!)  I'll be back tomorrow to show you some ROCK 'n' ROLL.

Take care.........

ROYAL BLOG TOUR

Welcome to the Crushed CurryTour. If thou art just beginning the tour, thee will be better served by beginning thy travels at the home Castle. Thee may reach it from here simply by clicking on my CROWN!

Welcome to the Crushed Curry Path of the Royal Blog Tour.
Ye are currently at Castle Number 20.

I'm so happy to be back on the ROYAL BLOG TOUR!  This time 'round we're featuring the new sets in Stampin' Up!'s 2009-2010 (Full Year) Idea Book & Catalog.  I selected to use the Greenhouse Garden stamp set (p. 94, 113824, $25.95, 10 pieces).  My first, second and third choices were gone but I'm really glad to have used this set.  It challenged me and forced me to really think and create.  That's why I love participating in this tour.

Why not start out with a Christmas card!?  I really wanted to use one of the new dies for the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine---the lovely Stampin' Up! exclusive Lattice Die (p. 198, 115958). 

 

Ingredients for the card above:

Stamp Sets:  Greenhouse Garden, Christmas Classics

Cardstock:  Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Merry Moments Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Old Olive, Real Red, Ruby Red

Accessories:  Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Movers & Shapers Curly Label die & SU! Magnetic Movers & Shapers die, Modern Label punch, SNAIL adhesive, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensionals, Stampin' Sponge

 

I had to do something different with these Two-Step Stampin' flowers so decided to try the "One Sheet Wonder" Technique.  Rather than covering an entire sheet of cardstock with random stamping I just covered a smaller piece and used it as 'background' paper.

Ingredients for the card above:

Stamp Sets:  Greenhouse Garden, Lovely as a Tree, Sincere Salutations

Cardstock:  Old Olive, Summer Sun, Whisper White

Ink:  Apricot Appeal, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun

Accessories: Punches: Wide Oval & Scallop Oval; Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Sponge, Dimensionals

For this next item, I decided it was time to use the Bigz XL Die, Box with Scallops, that's been gathering dust on my shelf.  Are you ever afraid to use your dies for the first time?  Well, I am.  This one is really a piece of cake!  Just follow the folds, apply some sticky tape and you're done.  For fun, I did a little Rock 'n' Roll technique.  I'll show you how after the Royal Blog Tour is over.

 

Ingredients for the box above:

Stamp Sets:  Greenhouse Garden, All Holidays

Cardstock:  Dusty Durango Textured 12 x 12, Crushed Curry, Whisper White

Ink:  Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango

Accessories:  Punches:  1-3/8" Circle, Scallop Circle, Modern Label; Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Bigz XL Die: Bag with Scallops (114519), Linen thread, Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka-Dot Ribbon, Dimensionals

My final card is just plain fun and was inspired by Jackie Bolhuis from Michigan.  I pulled out another previously unused die for this card:  the Oval Scallop Frame.

 

Ingredients for the card above:

Stamp Sets:  Greenhouse Garden, FYI

Cardstock:  Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper, Soft Suede, Whisper White

Ink:  Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Bigz XL Die: Frame Oval Scallop Die (114521), SU! Little Leaves (114511), Punches:  Scallop Edge & Modern Label; Paper Piercing Tool, Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka-Dot Ribbon, Gold Brads, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive

How about some BLOG CANDY?  Leave a comment below and you'll be in the random drawing for a regular-card-sized Magazine File, complete with 8 cards/envelopes, all hand crafted and stamped by m-o-i.  Here's a peak at an older one I made.  The Blog Candy file will be freshly made using a new Designer Series Paper and In-Color cardstock.  Non-SU! Demonstrators only please.   Demos:  I will send you a template and instructions for making your own if you're interested.  :)  Winner will be selected on July 29th and will be notified by email.  (I had said the 27th originally but --- the tour isn't even over by then!  Sorry for any confusion I might have caused you earlier tourists! )  Please leave your email address in your comment or send it to me privately by using the 'email me' button on the upper left side bar of my blog.  

I hope you've enjoyed your time here in My Country Loft.  And be sure to bookmark this page, or subscribe to my blog feed, if you'd like to find me easily after the tour.  This is fun and I look forward to seeing you again.  ;)  

Thou journey on this path has ended. We princesses hope Melon Mambo Castles were to thou liking. When thee clicks the Next Glass Slipper, thy coach will return thee to the Royal Blog Tour Home Castle. There thee will find three paths that lead to additional castles. More clues can be found at these castles, so look carefully. Recall all thee hath learned, and remember thee hath been given three days in which to return the clues to the Royal Blog Tour High Queen. Only when thee hath returned all 20 clues to her will she command the Castle Scribe to record thy name. Thou name must be inscribed in the record in order for thee to receive a chance at the Big Shot Die Cut Machine. We wish thee a fair wind!

This Tour is Over But There Will Be Another One in July

I hope you enjoyed the Blog Tour. The links are gone, so I hope you bookmarked all your favorites. I hope to participate in the next tour which will be July 27 and 28.  It will coincide with the launch of Stampin' Up!'s  yearly catalog, so be sure to stop back here in July for updates!

My projects  remain--as a memory of that "tour" and as great ideas for this stamp set.  It was a first for me......focusing on one stamp set, Thoughts & Prayers, and share all originally designed samples of cards and 3-D items.  All supplies are from Stampin' Up! and all items are created with the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set, p. 59 in Stampin' Up!'s 2009 Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog, item # 113252, $25.95

I love this candle (which was the only new one I could find in my candle stash) :

Ingredients:
CARDSTOCK:  Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip
INK: Stampin' Write Markers:  Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss
ACCESSORIES:  Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Snail adhesive, Sticky Strip
TIP:  Before wrapping your cardstock around the candle, gently slide it across the edge of your table to break down the fibers slightly and put a 'bend' into the cardstock.  It won't 'fight' you then as much when you want to secure it around the candle.  I used Sticky Strip where my cardstock overlapped on the back side of the candle; Snail adhesive to attach the scalloped piece to the stamped piece of cardstock.

This card uses one of the Specialty Designer Series Papers:

 

Ingredients:
CARDSTOCK:  Whisper White, To the Nines Specialty Designer Series Paper
INK: Stampin' Write Markers:  Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss;  Classic Stamp Pad:  Always Artichoke
ACCESSORIES:  Vintage Brads (Antique Brass), Stampin' Sponge, Dimensionals, Snail adhesive

I saw a technique, a ribbon "frame", that I just had to try:

 

Ingredients:

STAMP SET:  Hugs & Wishes, Filagree Background                                            CARDSTOCK:  Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss, Kraft
INK: Stampin' Write Markers:  Mellow Moss, Regal Rose; Versamark, Classic Stamp Pads: Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa
ACCESSORIES:  Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Linen Thread, Vintage Brads (Antique Brass), Snail Adhesive

TIP: I saw this ribbon treatment on a card and just had to try it.  Not real easy but not that hard either.  Cut a piece of ribbon the length of the perimeter of your image plus about 10" more.  Start with a knot in the center and then work your way around to the left and the right.  Corners:  With a 4" piece of linen thread, gather the ribbon and secure with a knot--wrap the linen thread around the brad (that is already in position), snug it up, tie the knot, and trim ends very short.  Do the next ribbon knot and then repeat with the corner brads.  Overlap your ends at the lower left (or right) corners, secure with linen thread wrapped around the brad and trim both the linen thread and the ribbon ends.  Believe me, if I could do this, you can do it!  :)  Just be patient.

I really wanted to use these In-Colors but there's no marker for them.  So I used an Aqua-Painter and picked up color from the stamp pad lid.

 

Ingredients:
CARDSTOCK:  Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Urban Garden Designer Series Paper
INK: Blender Pen, Class Pads: Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip
ACCESSORIES: Eyelet Border Punch, 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon: Kiwi Kiss, Urban Garden Designer Series Paper, Dimensionals, Snail adhesive

TIP:  I picked up the color for the branch by using the Blender Pen and the lid of the Class Stamp Pad.  When your stamp pad is closed, squeeze the upper lid (using your thumb and middle finger) into the stamp pad itself.  When you open the pad, there will be a generous amount of ink on the lid.  Use that as your color palette.  You do have to load the blender pen frequently to have enough color to apply to the stamp.  Huff on the stamp before applying it to the cardstock.

This Bag-in-a-Box is one of the warmest gift bags I've ever seen:

 

Ingredients:
CARDSTOCK:  Sweet Slumber Specialty Designer Series Paper (11" x 5-1/2"), Ruby Red, Whisper White
INK: Stampin' Write Markers:  Ruby Red, Old Olive
ACCESSORIES: Punches: Boho Blossoms, Eyelet Border, Round Tab & 1/16" Circle; Fresh Favorites II Buttons, Vintage Brads (Antique Brass), Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Paper Snips, Mini Glue Dots, Sticky Tape, Snail adhesive

TIP:  I would not suggest using a 'speciality' DSP (Designer Series Paper) for this project.  It's pretty strong and doesn't want to stay where you have placed it with adhesive.  But, here's a suggestion to get around this:  Place brads in the lower area of each Round Tab punch out to keep them in place.  On the back of your bag, carefully (ha!) position a brad at the top of the border piece where it overlaps.  Use a bone folder to flatten out the brad since it's so far down inside the bag.  It will then stay in position.

I brushed the edges of the stamped Boho Blossom flowers with the Ruby Red marker to make the pieces stand out a bit.  Buttons were attached with Mini Glue Dots.

There is a box inside the bag, hence the project name!!!  The box is 4-1/2" square, scored at 1" on each side, and then scored on the diagonal at each corner.  Then secure the box into shape using Sticky Strip.  Place Sticky Strip along one short and one long edge of the DSP, being sure to burnish (rub firmly with Bone Folder) it into the paper.  Lay the box so that the bottom of the box is at the edge of the DSP with the box opening facing the remaining DSP.  You want the end edge of the DSP to be in the middle of a side of the box so that the final overlap will be in the the middle of the back, rather than at a corner.  Once you have the box wrapped on all sides, secure the back seam. 

I really had fun trying out some new-to-me techniques with this stamp set.  This one uses the big Shot Texture plate (#4) and some Chocolate Chip classic ink.

 

Ingredients:
CARDSTOCK:  Mellow Moss, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla
INK: Stampin' Write Markers:  Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip; Classic Stampin' Pad:  Chocolate Chip
ACCESSORIES:  Mellow Moss 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Oval and Large Oval Punches, Dimensionals. Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Texture Plates Kit #4, Stampin' Sponge, Snail Adhesive

TIP:  For the first time, I tried using the Big Shot texture plate by inking it up before running it through the Big Shot.  I covered it with Chocolate Chip ink.  I absolutely love the look and feel of it!

Finally, a total switch to a Birthday Calendar and April's entry.  The rest of this calendar is a part of my April and May stampin' classes.



Ingredients:
CARDSTOCK:  Whisper White (Birthday Calendar)
INK: Stampin' Write Markers:  Mellow Moss, Regal Rose, Blush Blossom; Classic Pad: Blush Blossom
ACCESSORIES:  Perpetual (Birthday) Calendar (p. 157 of the Spring/Summer SU! Idea Book & Catalog), Stampin' Sponges

And, there you have it.  I hope you've had a grand time in Mi Wuk Village, tucked away at a wide spot in the road along Hwy 108, as it heads up towards Sonora Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California.  Be sure to come back and visit another time.

If you would like to purchase any of the ingredients used in these projects, and don't have a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, you can either email me (box up upper left of this page) or click on my Shop 24/7 button at the upper right, click shop now, and follow the bouncing ball.  You'll have your supplies in almost no time!  I am always available to share tips and help you out with a project you've seen in My Country Loft.